Some Finished Objects

Stripey socks - in Shoppel Wolle for me! Modelled expertly don't you think! I love them.

My colourful, fraternal stripy socks

Then there was some finishing on a long overdue project.  An AK Traditions doll for little girl. This is actually the third one I have knitted for her. The first two ended up being given away as emergency birthday pressies for her friends so she has been reminding me for ages and ages to finish hers. I have finally finished her. I decided to do the hair a bit differently. It's more like the dolls in Babes in the Wool by Fiona McDonald and I'm quite pleased with it. She has button eyes now but didn't when we did the photoshoot!

I like the big, curly hairdo

Love the stripy stockings

And finally, there were some more socks for little old me. I need them too as all my existing ones are getting a little threadbare and tatty.  Here's a pair in Regia - Kaffe Fassett Mist Landscape colours.  Nice!

Excellently modelled again I thought!

I do like Regia sock yarn

Wild weather and wild walking

Well I don't know what is going on with the weather lately. Just when it was getting nice and I went out one lunchtime WITHOUT A COAT, everything gets turned on it's head and we are back in the throes of winter once more.

Monday started off gloriously sunny and I even had to close the blinds in my office because it was just too bright. Then suddenly the golden glow was gone and this was what I saw from my window.

Blizzard Conditions

A bit of a whiteout, with the snow driving almost sideways past the windows. All the cars were crawling along with headlights on. At lunchtime! Then ten minutes later back to glorious blue skies and sunshine. Another ten minutes went by and the blizzard returned. Most annoying. Stopped me heading out for a trundle as I wasn't suitably attired for the changeable conditions. Grr!

Mind you, I am beginning to get used to all these polar conditions. The girls were off to see Horrible Histories with the grandparents at the weekend so himself and I decided to head for the hills. Ingleborough this time. We are doing all three Yorkshire peaks again prior to having another go at all of them in one go. It looked a tad dull but we were not to be stopped. The weekend before we had had to cancel as the boiler conked out and we spend all day waiting for the boiler man to come (he didn't show until the day after in the end so we were stuck in for no purpose.... Grr again!).

We wrapped up and set off. Took lots of layers, poles and my fabulous and girly pink rucksack. It was cool but not too bad. Looked a bit snowy up top but nothing to worry about.

Heading towards a snowy Ingleborough

In fact, the cool conditions made the walking nice and firm as it was rather frosty. It looked a bit ominous ahead but we pressed on - we are intrepid!

Polar Conditions

As we got higher, it got colder and windier. It was quite tricky going. We almost gave up. You couldn't see much so we had no idea how near the top we were. But we pressed on anyhow and made it! In fact there were other people at the top too so they kindly took a photo for us.

Chilly summit of Ingleborough

Gosh it was cold up there. After a bit of confusion in finding the path back down, visibility was not great up there, we headed back down to Clapham. Even made it back down in time to have a bit of a browse in the lovely Beckside Yarns wool shop in the village.

Crochet Cushions

I bought a "Lucy" pack of Stylecraft DK a while back and was intending to make a ripple blanket with it. However, it just didn't progress much and has lingered forlornly in a basket for quite a long time so it was time to do something about it. I ripped it all back, cursing my weaving in.  Can anyone tell me why on earth weaving in will persist in poking out when you don't want it to but is almost impossible to unravel when you don't like the piece anymore. It is one of life's great mysteries isn't it.

Anyway, I wasn't feeling in a blanket mood so decided on cushions instead.  That way I can have it all. Granny squares, patchwork squares and ripples. In fact, anything I feel the urge to crochet.  So here you have the first two cushions. Fraternal rather than identical just as I like it!

Jolly cushons

Patchwork granny squares

Giant granny square

Half Term Happenings

Time really does fly when you are having a good time doesn't it.  I can't believe that the half term holiday is almost done. It only seems like 5 minutes since they broke up for the week. Back to school and work for us all tomorrow.

We have managed to pack quite a bit into the week and still have a good old rest as well.  We have been really lucky with the weather this week.  Although pretty cold at times, it has been really sunny as well, meaning lots of time outdoors.  The girls have been able to play outside properly this week which they love.  They have been in the woods at the back tidying up and organising stuff - also making lots of washing!

There was a very girly day with friends round for tea and a sleepover.  Another glorious day so we decided to head out and about and enjoy the day

Girls just having fun- three of them wearing headgear knitted by me!

Feeling pretty warm in the sunshine - coats were off!

Purple and yellow crocus - a promise of spring on the way?

There was also a trip to MOSI (the Museum Of Science & Industry) in Manchester which was brilliant. Lots of interesting stuff to see there about gas, electricity, sewers, engines, aeroplanes, steam trains and my favourite bit, textiles.  Really interesting and spread over several buildings on the site.  We dashed around like mad things because the girls were on a promise of lunch at Cafe Rouge which they were looking forward to slightly more than the prospect of a look around the museum! It's well worth a visit.

The girls on the steam powered carousel at MOSI

After lunch there was shopping where I got a DRESS! Oh yes, I kid you not, an actual dress. You know, like ladies wear.  I am never out of trousers usually but this dress just called to me and now it's in my wardrobe awaiting some slightly warmer weather to be shown off.  Just need some girly sandals to go with it. I hope the world is ready for this!

New Dress

It's from Fat Face and looks like a 1940s tea dress. Love it's vintage looks.  Just need a floppy hat, a lacy pinny and a cake stand filled with Victoria Sponge to go with it!

Is this what wearing a dress could do for me?

Back in the hills

At the beginning of the week we got out for our first "proper" walk of the year.  Back to the windswept hill of Whernside in the Yorkshire Dales.  We packed a picnic and a couple of flasks (coffee for the grown ups and hot choc for the girlies), wrapped up and headed over the border.  It was glorious.  Really beautiful and sunny with blue skies but cold and crisp.  There was still quite a lot of snow on the hill tops and it felt almost like a winter expedition tramping over the still quite deep snow on the top.

Snowy Whernside in view

The really good thing about the recent cold weather is that it has hardened up all of the mud.  It's pretty boggy around this part of the Yorkshire Dales so a cold and crisp day was just the ticket for easy walking. That said, for the most part, the Whernside route is pretty good most of the way around.  There's just one part that is boggy and it was still quite snowy so good fun to cross on the way up.

The final haul up to the top is north-facing and there was lots of snow there.  We all felt quite intrepid trekking up through it all.  It was quite exciting.

Trekking up through the snow

Amazing views of snow and sunshine

We got to the top and stopped for our butties and very welcome hot drinks all huddled together like a family of penguins!  On the way back down we hit the more southerly flank of Whernside and the snow was much less here.

Heading back down the less snowy flank

And finally crossed the fields in the valley to reach the iconic Ribblehead Viaduct and the end of our walk.

Ribblehead Viaduct

The girls want to come again.  So do we. While it's not as visible as its neighbours (Ingleborough and Penyghent), windswept Whernside is always a pleasure to visit.

Normality and vertigo

Sigh... I had a lovely week off so it's been a bit of a downer going back to work and normality.  I was quite happy walking, knitting and pottering about thank you very much.  It's a pity I can't find some generous benefactor to pay me for doing just that. Sadly, I have a yarn habit to feed (and bills and stuff) and so must go to work.

The snow disappeared pretty quickly and only a few little spots remain high up on the hills.  I carried on walking and the final stats were as follows

Miles: 121.6
Time:  44 hours 29 minutes 30 seconds
Kcal:  12454

Challenge for February is to follow a couch to 5K running program.  First session tomorrow morning.

Knitting wise, it's been a quieter week because I went back to work and time is short.  Managed to finish off a pair of socks and almost finish a second pair.  The first were some socks in a 6ply by Rico for a family member (very, very late Christmas pressie). Gosh they were a bit of a chore.  Just did not enjoy knitting them for some reason.

Socks of tedium!

The second were a pair that were intended as a gift for someone else but I just loved the jolly colours so much that I decided to keep them just for me!

Colour burst socks for me!

Got a cold coming on.  Very snotty today and lots of sneezing going on.  This is affecting my ears I think because yesterday I woke up with dizziness and felt like the room was spinning.  It was most peculiar but intermittent and I seemed to spend the day lurching around every time I bent over or moved too quickly.  Thankfully, it's not too bad today so I reckon it's tied in with the cold I seem to be getting.

Walking, snow fun and some new headgear

Well the snow stuck around tenaciously all week.  It was getting quite thin on the ground but deadly icy in some spots. I spent most of the week in my trusty walking boots.  Carless, as I think I mentioned last time, I have walked everywhere and it's been great.  I walked 38.40 miles in 5 days.  That's an average of almost 8 miles per day.  Really pleased with it.  I have met my 100 miles target and gone past it to 105.26 miles with a few days to go until the end of the month.

It's Saturday today and it's my hanging around waiting for girls to do stuff and big shop day.  It also snowed again last night.  While there is lots and lots of snow it's all a bit sludgy and thawing quickly so horrid to walk on.  Decided to buy a sledge and head off with the girls to the park instead.

Girls trying out the new sledge in the park

It was a glorious sunny afternoon and much too good an opportunity to waste indoors.  We wrapped up and had a ball in the snow.

Getting a push off

There was much shrieking and screaming but all in the best possible way of course.

The girls took turns then soon realised more sledging was to be had if they rode together

Not quite deep enough for a snow angel but enough to attempt it anyway!

As it has been so cold I decided some new headgear was needed.  After a bit of head observing while out and about it seemed that headbands/ear warmers are all the rage so that's what I decided to have a go at.  Used the quick and easy pattern from Village Stitches called the Groovy Girlfriend Earwarmer and ended up making 3 of them.  One each for the girls and one for Littlest Girl's best friend (it's her birthday this week)

Gift version with crochet flower

 I used a James C Brett Chunky yarn and had enough for two headbands.  I didn't want them to be exactly the same so I was really pleased when I went to Stitch and Bitch and came across some huge flower buttons. Just right!  Also got some King Cole Comfort Chunky in a turquoise colour to make a third headband for biggest girl.

Girls in their groovy earwarmers.  Just love the big buttons.

My week off is over and it's back to work and normality on Monday.

Singing, socks and snow

This week I have the pleasure of an unexpected week off work outside of the school holidays. It's great! The circumstances that led to this week off mean that I am carless but that is a plus as I am in the middle of my walk 100 miles in January challenge so at the very least I will need to walk the girls to and from school each day.

Last week they took part in a Young Voices concert at the MEN Arena in Manchester.  What an awesome event that is.  Hundreds maybe even a couple of thousand primary kids from all over the region getting together to make up a massive choir and sing together.

All the lit up areas are school children taking part in Young Voices

Children could take torches and it looked like stars

The African Childrens choir were one of the acts that were on and they were fabulous. Such energetic dancing while singing so well.  Amazing.  A really great evening and a wonderful experience for all of the children that have taken part in it.  Fancy being able to say, " yeah, when I was 8, I played the MEN arena in Manchester!" Brilliant.

There have been some friends' birthdays lately so socks have duly been knitted.  Timescales proved to be a little short.  A backup plan was needed and, ladies and gentlemen, the answer to shortness of time in respect of socks is this, 6 ply. Oh yes indeedy; so fast and quick to knit up!  And with the recipients having little feet ( still being little people ) I even got 2 pairs from one ball.  What a result!

Socks knitted in Opal 6ply sock yarn - Polar Lights

Just in case you hadn't noticed, we've had a bit of snow lately.  Actually, here in the North West of England it's been a bit lacking frankly but it has been quite heavy elsewhere and there has been a right old song and dance about it.  Here it was just plain disappointing.  The girls are desperate for a bit of snowman construction and there just hasn't been enough of the white stuff.

This may change though and we did get some more snow last night.  It was looking promising and the girls were crossing everything they could in the hopes of a day off school.  It wasn't to be though and we duly set off walking to school.

Not snowy enough for school to close! Enough for snowballs though!

Now as I have the week off I decided to take a long way home and headed up the hill from school.  As I got higher it got snowier and at the top of the road it was a beautiful winter wonderland.

Heading up the hill to the snowy woodlands

It was gorgeous and got even better when I turned onto a quiet lane (Back Lane) to head back to Padiham.  The tracks on the snow were made by the only vehicle I saw up there which was, of course, a postman in his red van!

Snowy lane

It was a rare treat indeed to have such snowy loveliness all to myself. I felt quite spoiled by it and glad to be alive.  There was sooooooo much unsullied snow to walk in.  I was in heaven - I just love making the first footprints into fresh snow!

This snow is mine, all mine!

Miles walked in January so far  - 74.23

January Challenges

I think I mentioned that I was going to join in a 100 mile walking challenge during January.  Well I am doing quite well with it and here are the stats so far;

Distance walked - 45.52 miles
Time taken - 17 hours 31 minutes
Calories burned -  4879

Also just started a new knitting challenge.  The Double Heelix socks from Knitty.com. It's a bit of a mind bender for me but I think I have cracked it.  Here's the first sock in progress.

Look! The heel spirals around. It's awesome!

Just in case you couldn't see the stonking spiral effect. Here's a close up. Spectacular spirals don't you think? I'm pretty pleased with it so far.

The socks are a birthday pressie for a friend of Big Girl so got to get them done by next weekend. Ulp! Last minute....me.... always! I decided on a saffron yellow / cerise pink colour combo to make the most of my amazing spiralling heels.

Bright and colourful contrasting colours

It's a dog's life

Sally dog relaxing after a long walk, on the furry cushion, wrapped in a towel, with her favourite toy in front of a roaring coal fire!

It's a hard life!

Pepperpots, mossy socks and alpaca

Almost two weeks into 2013 and I think it's about time I got back to writing a bit more regularly. If nothing else I will have something to look back on. I think maybe I have got to a point in my life where my head is completely full. I can only take new things on board at the expense of something that is already in there! Writing stuff down is a kind of back up system really!

December was very busy and there were lots of things going on for the girls with school and music. There were preparations for Christmas, Christmas itself and then finally the New Year. The weather wasn't up to much and it was very mild but very rainy. We were all a bit stir crazy by the end of the holidays and quite relieved to get back into the normal routine.

There has been some knitting going on. Mostly socks. Nothing new there.

Socks for Father-in-Law made in Regia Ombre Stripes by Kaffe Fassett. Moss colour way

Socks for Sister-in-Law made in TyDy sock yarn. Colourway Magenta moss

I'm rather in love with the sister-in-law socks. I adore the colours and the feel of the yarn is sooooo soft and silky. Struggling a lot to let them go. But let them go I must.....sigh

My mum's birthday is at the beginning of January so we decided to all go out for lunch. As my parents were also getting somewhat stir crazy after being stuck indoors for so long it was arranged to go up to Silverdale for a bit of a walk and then food. It's up in the north west corner of Lancashire and is a favourite spot with us all really. Heading up the motorway it wasn't raining. It was very misty and foggy in places but in between there was a promise of some sunshine. At last! Maybe it would turn out to be a glorious day.

Sadly not. It remained unrelentingly misty and foggy all day. In the end this didn't really matter.  Our walk was quite pleasantly eerie and atmospheric.  We went to Eaves Wood and walked up the hill to see the Pepperpot ( a monument built for Queen Victoria's golden jubilee ). 

Eaves Wood in Silverdale. Misty and mossy.

It was a mix of mist, moss and mud in the woods but a good time was had by all because it is such a lovely place. Has a real enchanted forest feel about it. We reckon there are definitely fairies living there.

Fallen trees make a picture frame

Every now and then you also come across funny little half built shelters. The girls loved these little dens and each one had to be explored and photographed. 

One of the quirky "dens" dotted around the woods

Heading through the woods we were still hopeful that the mist would clear. It's a spectacular view across Morecambe bay on a clear day.

Pepperpot in the mist

Not today though. The Pepperpot looked more like the end of the world than a panoramic view. Oh well.... another time. It's still a slightly bizarre little folly to visit. A flask of hot chocolate and some biscuits later and we were off back down through the woods to have a look at Silverdale Cove.

Looks like a fungi!

The mist stayed with us so there wasn't much of a view on the shoreline either. Time to head off to the Silverdale Hotel for a spot of lunch.

Silverdale Cove

Not far from the cove we came across a pair of alpaca in a field looking super cute.

Dark cheeky alpaca

Lighter shy alpaca

A lovely lunch was enjoyed by us all. We hope for better weather and views next time.

Out with the old and in with the new

Well so much for writing a post every day this month. Total fail. It's been a really hectic and full month of stuff. I am glad it's almost over.

So goodbye to 2012.  It wasn't a bad year really. The weather left a lot to be desired but it hasn't been as bad around here as in some places so mustn't grumble.

As usual been thinking about the year ahead and here's what is on my plan.

1. Knit exclusively from stash (seriously I need to economise and yarn is stashed all over the place in this house)
2. Declutter (do I really need to hang on to 5 year old knitting mags?)
3. Rein in my finances and be more frugal
4. Go to Scotland (this is in hand)
5. Go to see a show or a concert
6. Camp more often for odd weekends

January Challenge

Walk 100 miles.  I will walk 100 miles during this month.  Starting tomorrow.  Quite excited about this one.

Still pondering a challenge for February.  Will keep you posted.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

So I finished the mini Christmas stockings just about in time. Well about 10 pm! They are now hanging off the beams in two lots of twelve and looking very festive indeed. There are sweeties in them too as they are sort of a reusable advent calendar. Just lacking some numbers! Will sort that for next year. I think some little bells could be cute as well!

Watching a Led Zepplin concert on DVD with himself. Now they are rock Gods as we all know, and the performance is outstanding and everything, but oh how I will be relieved when it's finished! I only really know a handful of the well known songs and all the others sound the same to me. Himself claims it's because I am a girl! I say it' s like listening to a steel band. Fab for the first few numbers and then it all just sounds the same!

Signed up for the daily blogging again this month. I may not succeed as easily though because there are a lot of events coming up in the evenings. We shall see.