Twit Twoo

Finally after living at this house for 10 years and hearing them I've finally seen an owl in the woods behind the house!  Heard it around 8.45pm-ish and walked down the back path following the sound and got lucky! There it was on a low branch until it saw me and flew off. Done a bit of research in younger daughter's guide to British birds and I reckon it's a tawny owl.

Found a picture of one to show you. I was so thrilled. It's given me a huge amount of pleasure.  See I'm so easily pleased.  The bats are also back. I think they are most likely to be common Pipistelle bats. They are lovely to see as they dart about in the twilight. I think they might roost in our roof. 

Glorious!

It's been fantastic weather today. I was sitting outside in shorts and a vesty top and there was even suncream involved. Great stuff. Got myself set up on the top of the steps and finally finished my Granny Squares. 54 of them altogether. I'm quite proud of myself for not getting distracted by the lovely sock wool I bought recently (2 lots of Regia - another set of Kaffe Fassett Easter colourway and some Flusi in yellow, orange and green) or the Cheap as Chips swap parcel that arrived at the same time.

I am determined to actually start and finish just one project this Easter and it looks like I'm going to do it too! Unlike my usual habit of kicking off something new when it all gets a bit tedious or I acquire a 'must knit' yarn.

Will go and do some more joining up now. Photos to follow tomorrow.

Granny Square Madness

I finally got around to taking some pictures of the infamous Granny Squares.

I'm using up some bright red and pale pink acrylic that I got in a moment of madness in Lidl last year. Had thoughts of knitting up some stuff for the girls but that was never really gonna happen now was it? I was seduced by the thought of bargain yarn. It's OK as far as acrylic goes but not especially nice so it's been sitting in the back of the stash cupboard for quite a while making me feel guilty. I am so glad to be shifting it by making a blanket. It's my first one so I don't mind if it turns into a pigs ear since I spent barely a tenner on it. Would be heartbroken if it was anything posher!

I'm up to nearly 30 squares so far and there's still plenty of yarn left so hopefully it will be a decent size. Must remember to save some yarn for sewing/crocheting together and a border though. Will try to remember to take some progress shots and let you know how it's coming along.

More Holiday Fun

Well we are into the Easter holidays fully now. So far all has been good. The tooth trauma is over now and distraught daughter suitably consoled by note from tooth fairy and payment even though tooth actually lost in the sewers somewhere!

DH working this week so just me and the girls. How I love working term-time only, it's just so much easier. G and D the kids next door have practically moved in and we've had a really fun day today. They played for hours in the wood at the back of the house and I now have a pile of 26 granny squares so far! Must remember to take a picture. I'm using up some cheap acrylic yarn I got at Lidl last year so brownie points for me for using up stash and not buying more yarn! Good for me!

After playing quite happily,  lots of running about and shouting mostly, it began to get a bit fractious so it was definitely time for a walk. Had to take G and D from next door too. The dog was in need of a bit of exercise too so gathered kids, lead, ball, plastic poo bag and set off. Total chaos. Excitable giddy kids and lead chewing silly dog.

 

 Off they all ran and left me holding the dog and puffing and panting to keep up. Found them draped artistically over the park railings!

Plenty of steam was let off in the park and lots of muck and dirt attracted in the process. Back home mid afternoon and G and D ended up staying for tea. All got a bit too much again, so nothing for it but to go out for another walk! This is the joy of light evenings. You can nip out after tea for an hour or so and burn off all that energy.

Decided to head up to the cricket ground and wood behind it. 

 

Found an abandoned space hopper which was bounced all the way home and is now in my back garden... Here we are having our photo taken while I'm taking a pic of DH taking the pic....hmmm... getting a bit of mind melt with that one!

I'll try to clarify a bit. Here we are having a little sit down. The kids proudly showing off the abandoned space hopper that they have now adopted and re-homed. I'm taking a photo of DH.

And here is the view we have from the bench along with DH taking the previous photo!

One of the things I love about spring evenings is the light. In the depths of winter it just sort of suddenly gets dark in the space of what seems like just a few minutes. Once the clocks go forward and you are into spring though, you get a fantastic sunset, dusk, twilight thing going on.  Lots of lovely shadows. It's great and it gives me a ridiculous amount of pleasure to see.

I love this picture of the kids' shadows. In a funny kind of way it reminds me of Peter Pan. This set off a bit of an arty farty mood so here are some more pictures of the lovely effects of evening light. The town is a bit higgledly piggedly and there are always lots of roofs to be seen. Also a few peculiar buildings.

Love this funny gatehouse. It's in two halves. Sadly, this half is in a pretty poor state and the roof is starting to go. The other side is looked after and lived in. What a cool house that must be. Owner was pottering about so didn't like to start taking photos of that half while they were looking on!

 Love this old part of town. Really nice hodge-podge of stone buildings. The weather really picked up this evening and the blue sky looked divine. Cue gratuitous church and big sky picture.

I also love the way the sun going down can give you two views of things. Depending on the direction you see ordinary things looking quite beautiful in silhouette.

Or bathed in setting sunshine.

While I was getting carried away with the gorgeousness of everyday objects (like chimneys) and taking arty farty photos, I forgot that I was the only one with a door key on me and found DH waiting stoically on the doorstep. Here he is and it's a gratuitous bike shot too!

Easter

Hooray! Easter hols have begun.  It's been pretty eventful really in a chilled out and relaxed kind of way.



















Took the annual trip to Sedgewick to visit my parents at the caravan site there.  Weather much better than anticipated and we had a really great afternoon.  Took a walk round the site. I think I've already gone on (and on) about how late everything is this year, no doubt because of the very cold winter we've had. It even snowed briefly again on Thursday.  All that aside though we did see lots of DAFFODILS.  Hooray! Thoughts of Wordsworth and his hosts of golden daffodils - highly appropriate since we were in the Lake District.

The River Kent runs alongside the site and there was a group of people canoe-ing along. Looked very exciting and fun. I would imagine pretty chilly though.... brr...

Unfortunately, on the way up there was an accident on the M6 so we did spend a long time  crawling a relatively short distance. Frustrating but can't be helped really.  On the plus side I did get a bit of knitting done. Was on a deadline for a party on Sunday. Also managed to get some more done after the work sitting in the sunshine

I was up until midnight finish this doll off. I did think it was a bit odd having a birthday party on Easter Sunday but you can't help when your birthday is can you? So I duly finished the doll and got to the party venue only to find there was nothing going on. How stupid did I feel when I looked at the invite and realised we were a whole week early.  It's not until next week. Doh! This is a repeat of the Sport Relief Mile fiasco.  Maybe it's the start of a downward spiral. Am I losing the plot? If you see any marbles lying around they are probably mine.  Send them back would you!

While I was frantically knitting away the kids (this includes grandparents of course) were busy building a den.

Off home we went. Natasha proudly showing off her wobbly front tooth which duly fell out shortly before the bedtime and then panic ensued when we realised we'd lost the special little tooth bag that she likes to leave her tooth under the pillow in.  Luckily we found it, and inside a two pound coin from the last tooth fairy visit that we'd forgotten all about! Happy days.... peace and harmony restored.

There's another wobbly tooth on the bottom row but more of that later.

Natasha woke up to a payment from the Tooth Fairy and they both had an easter egg hunt as well. Chocolate fest for much of the weekend has followed.

The weekend has been really great. Weather better than expected so DH power washed the back path and stone steps. They look great.

There has also been lots of dressing up too.  The girls are particularly into the morrocan outfits that my parents brought back for them in February.

DH spent some time scanning in some old slides that his dad found when he was having a clear out recently. They are great. From around 1968/69 we think.

They were on holiday in Magaluf in this photo. Check out DH's sandals (with socks too!) and the flower power dresses!

DH looking ever the poser. Nothing much changes. I'm only surprised he isn't wearing shades. Oh hang on... what's he holding.... I rest my case!

Bottom row wobbly tooth has tenaciously hung on for days despite much fiddling by daughter.  At bedtime tonight it was looking like if was definitely on it's last legs and she was constantly messing with it. It would go left, right, backwards, forwards... all directions. And then, when she was brushing her teeth out it popped and fell straight down the plughole. Devastation, daughter utterly distraught and inconsolable. Have reassured her that tooth fairy will still visit despite lack of tooth to swap.... sigh...have created a tooth fairy note to go with coin this time.... heartbreaking but kind of funny at the same time. Does that make me a bad mummy?

Granny square madness continues. Must get some pics to show you.

Sport Relief Mile

Well we turned up on the right day and did it this afternoon.

And they're off!

Running with Natasha

Running with Bronia

Triumphant and with goodie bags and medals!

Raised over £250 for Sports Relief. We are very chuffed.

Doh!

We all got ready, were prepared to brave the rain and do the sport relief mile.  Got to the meeting point and there was not a soul to be seen. Strange we thought. Maybe this isn't the place.  Went to the other possible place. Still no-one in sight.

 Finally checked the letter and realised it was the wrong day!

How silly do I feel?

Still, on the bright side it's lovely and sunny today.

Dead Woman's Wool

It would seem that my reputation as a knitter is undisputable. Recently two people have passed on the knitting paraphernalia of deceased relatives.  While I'm always happy to get free stuff it's still a bit weird!

From one of the departed knitters, got a full set of crochet hooks, oodles of knitting needles, a nice knitting bag, a great vintage knitting book and some yarn.  I especially like the green, pure wool that I can't find any information about. I think it's double knitting weight and there are 3 skeins weighing roughly 1 kg. Enough to knit a garment I'm hoping. But what??? I can't help wondering what she bought it for - the relative knows nothing of course. I'm thinking cardie, delicate cables.... just can't find the "right" pattern at the moment.

From the other one mostly acrylic baby yarn. Which I didn't have the heart to refuse as the relative clearly though I would be delighted with it! In the event, it has proved useful as a group of us have started meeting up in the canteen on Mondays to crochet.  Naturally, lots of Hooker comments have ensued. The acrylic has been handy to give away to all of the novice crocheters to practice with! Yay!

Also got a herdwick wool crochet bag kit in amongst it all.

Still no sign of any daffodils. (Am I becoming just a tad obsessive about this I wonder...) The grass at work has had the first cut of the year so it smelt wonderful today. Just love the smell of freshly cut grass.

Where are all the daffodils?

There are still lots of lovely snowdrops and quite a few crocuses around but no sign of the daffodils. Apparently, you can tweet the tourism bods in the lake district if you see any as they are a bit worried about them. Wordsworth, host of golden daffodils and all that.

It was Mother's Day on Sunday and the girls had made some lovely cards at school. They'd painted some lovely daffodils on the front (hmm... there's a bit of a theme here don't you think!). Got some lovely plants which I really must try to keep alive longer than I normally manage.  There were some hand written cards wishing me a lovely "moth's" day.

The fields around here are full of cute lambs so spring is definitely on the way. But not, it would seem, the daffodils!

Maybe I should check out Ravelry for some patterns that feature daffodils

AK Traditions Doll

Finished it! Am really quite pleased with how it turned out

Made her for Natty so had to have button eyes as she's into Coraline at the moment. Have cast on for a second dolly for Bron which has to have blonde hair.

Used good old King Cole Merino Blend DK for the doll. They have such a good range of colours and they are not too dissimilar to the AK colourways. It's lovely to knit with as well.

Almost spring

Well it's only 3 weeks until it's officially spring. So far the weather has been distinctly chilly.  Bit more snow last week - not very long-lived - and only one or two days with the promise of warmer weather to come. There seem to be lots of snowdrops this year and I've seen the odd crocus here and there. Daffs still have a long way to go yet though.

Half term came and went. All too quickly really. Managed to do a few things though including a trip to Manchester museum to look at the tyrannosaurus rex they have there. The boys came to stay again so we nipped out to feed the ducks and, by popular request, went to the cricket ground so everyone could slide down the steps at the pavillion.

Raaar! Scary T-Rex!

 

The swans were out when we went to feed the ducks. Beautiful.

The endless pleasure of sliding down the steps at the cricket pavillion!

Back to work and it's definitely getting lighter at night. Will soon be properly light when I come home from work. Starting later and finishing later nowadays. Looking forward to driving home in the daylight again.

Girls have been walking home from school some nights with DH. They have discovered a "swinging tree" and a "dead tree" in a field just off the road which they insisted I came to see. So today we went out for a walk to have a look at them.

The "Dead Tree". Looks quite ominous when you see it as it's slightly uphill when you go into the field and looks very stark. The girls love mooching around it though! They are not at all spooked by it.

 

The "Swinging Tree". There's a branch hanging off which is just the right height for the girls to sit on and bounce about on!

Nice group shot. Me taking the pics for a change! (Well as you can see DH has a camera too so it's more a case of me remembering to take my own camera too) Purple hat knitted for me but a bit tight so now Natty's. Bron's hat was crocheted for a baby and she insisted on wearing it even though it's a tad small. Would like to claim DH's jacket as my own work but sadly it's the work of Tog 24. You may never have known were it not for Jeremy Clarkson wearing the very same jacket on a recent episode of Top Gear.... sigh....

Wednesday Night is Knitting Night

Went to stitch n bitch for the first time in ages. I did nip in for a quick purchase last week. Gosh it's so popular now! Standing room only. Good job I have mastered the art of knitting standing up. It was great to see everyone again for a proper chat though.

Driving home I was struck by just how much I like driving along empty roads at night. Just love the streetlights flashing by and the easiness of it. Very soothing.

Almost finished second birthday sock which I will try to take a picture of before I give them away.  Will be glad to see the back of birthday knitting/crochet and get back onto my doll knitting.

What's on the needles...

Well I decided that this January was going to be all about me. Me me me me me. However, I'm broke and there are lots of forthcoming birthdays so I've been knitting socks for others like a madwoman! On the plus side, I am knitting from stash so at least one of my tentative New Year proposals is coming to something.

There has been 2 hats, 2 pairs of socks, and a scarf so far this month. One of the hats was for my mum. I'd knitted her a scarf for Christmas which she actually liked and she asked me for a hat to go with it. Made her a Baroness beret which she was chuffed with. I was amazed. She's not normally all that impressed with my woolly offerings! Result!!

I managed to get my hands on the lovely AK Traditions patterns which I am also knitting (for daughter the elder's fast approaching birthday).

They are gorgeous though. Couldn't stretch to a kit so am using my old favorite King Cole Merino which is looking lovely so far.  I am taking my time with it though as it would be such a shame to rush it and completely cock it up.

Have changed my work pattern lately which is working out pretty well. Am able to drop the kids off at school in the mornings and DH is picking them up at the end of the day.  All good and a much shorter day for them. They have to walk home 3 times a week too which is also a good thing as we are always being told that kids don't do enough exercise these days. I will even be able to walk them to school one day a week as well so even better! It's just over a mile away so a nice bit of exercise for me too (and God knows I could do with it!)

Happy New Year

Yes finally, a new post for 2010.

Haven't made any official resolutions but on the list of things I might want to do this year are:

• Knit from stash and try not to add to it!
• Knit more for me!
• Try to walk the girls to school twice a week instead of taking the car (weather needs to improve and first though!)
• Lose some weight!

But as none of the above are official then it's not the end of the world if they don't come to anything!
Oh remember the meteor sighting?  Well... saw lots more of them on New Year's Eve when we finally realised that they were in fact paper lanterns. Feel slightly silly now!
We had snow. Lots of snow. A white Christmas in fact.

The girls with an impressive snowman

 

View from the back of the house... like Narnia!

There's been a bit of knitting too but not been very good a taking pictures apart from a couple of novelty hats requested by some colleagues at work.

The Hideous Chistmas Hat!

The Jayne Cobb "Cunning" Hat

Meteor

Oh my God. I think I just saw a meteor!  Just done a quick google and apparantly there is the Leonid meteor shower about to happen.  Amazing

SABLE

That's Stash Beyond Life Expectancy of course! Hmm.. well.... we had a bit of a reshuffle in the living room and the full extent of my ever-growing yarn addiction started to become clear when DH told me to sort out the pile of knitting stuff in the room.

I looked at it and then had to go and have a cup of tea and a bit of a think.

Then I had another look at it and just had to have another cup of tea.

Blimey, how did this happen? Where did it all come from? I'm sure I don't know, really I don't, surely I'm not responsible for all of it.

Then I got myself together and managed to stuff quite a lot of it into new hidey holes and all was normal again.

I really don't have too much yarn. No really I don't (just don't open any cupboards around the place)

Bike Trip

Blimey, it's been months and I haven't updated this blog. All the pertinent info went onto Twitter though so you can still have a look at it if you are interested.
What a blast! Here's what happened in a nutshell.
First of all. It was hot. Very hot. Very, very, very hot! At least 40C for the first few days. We were totally unprepared for this and riding in that heat in British bike gear is not nice at all! Now I know what it feels like to be a boil in the bag fish! Progress was slow because we had to keep stopping for rehydration (also removal of lots of gear to cool down). Still we weren't the only ones. All of the bikers were suffering and there was a certain camaraderie as we all huddled in the scant shadowy places to cool off!

We didn't get to all of the places we planned on account of the heat. But did reroute via Millau. This was a random selection from the map but there is a famous bridge there which was well worth seeing. It is an engineering marvel and looks almost impossibly delicate. We didn't ride across it but did pass underneath which was a great way to really see it's magnificence.
Got to the accommodation in the Pyrenees which was quirky! Bit of a mistake booking it for 10 days. We were all mountained out after a week. Plus the bike fell over and one of the indicators stopped working so we ended up heading home a few days sooner than planned.

The Pyrenees. Wow!

One day riding in the clouds being all British and sure that it would brighten up soon. It didn't. We saw nothing. Thank God for sat nav as we could barely see past the front of the bike a lot of the time and it showed us what was coming.
Very freaky looking at the side of the road and seeing nothing but cloud yet knowing that there is most likely a frighteningly long and steep drop there! Disorientating.

The next day fabulously clear and totally blown away by the amazing views. Also amazed by the astonishing number of cyclists zooming around the place!







Also kept coming across animals at the summits scrounging for food! Horses on one carpark and a cheeky goat on another! All looked, well chunky.

The best bit of all was all the people we met. The Spanish bikers (all on BMW K series bikes), the friendly cook at the roadside cafe, the lady Harley rider we kept bumping into all the way home, Gary from Bournemouth who we chatted to at the top of the Col du Tourmalet, the bonkers ex-pat who moved to France because he likes to own guns, the chatty dutchman with 4 hours more to drive who wished he was on his bike. Just great. You don't get that when you are driving a car.

Also visited some great places briefly. Had coffee in Luxembourg, stayed a night it a very posh hotel in Lausanne by Lake Geneva, walked amongst the beautiful people in Biarritz, crossed the border to Donastia St Sebastian in Spain, goggled at the numerous souvenir shops in Lourdes, and had a pleasant evening in Charleville. All great.

After deciding to head for home, we also decided to see how far we could go in one go. 900 miles it seems. We kept going until Leamington Spa where we had to stop to pick up the car and the dog. Although the dog was now in Cheshire (long story).

Bit bum sore but exhilarated.

Big Bike Trip

Probably won't be able to blog much en route so we are planning to Tweet instead. You can also check out where we are on a map too!

Follow us on the trip