Christmas best wishes...

Just taking the opportunity of a bit of wifi to say Happy Christmas to you all!

Think this is going to be a slightly unusual Christmas but intending to work hard to make it a happy one. So far, sausage rolls, mince pies and Dundee cake made, chocolate brownies in lieu of yule log (well...variation on a theme really!) - turkey waiting to be stuffed, parcels all wrapped and under the tree.

All good then...just one slight crisis on the make front; time seems to have beaten me for one present, if I stay up late tonight I might just manage to get it part completed and it may have to be an IOU for the other half - oops!

Wishing you the very best of Christmases, here's to health, happiness and Christmas dinner co-ordinating itself tomorrow!

Til next time
Sx

life goes on...

Just a quick update...

In the last couple of weeks, I have moved house and started life over again. It all feels very strange and a bit surreal (and to be frank the timing could have been better!) but I think it will be for the best in the long run. I miss the boys all the time, but they know where I am and I hope will soon feel they can treat this as a second home in town. 

And of course, Christmas is still happening, work continues unabated and the day to day 'stuff' still continues... 

For the time being, I have no home internet connection (feel like I've had my arms cut off!!) hence the erratic nature of posting, and looks like my good intentions to complete the December photo hunt may be thwarted by general life stuff and lack of access to the web! Think perhaps I will just give in gracefully and try to get back to some kind of normal when I am 'reconnected' in mid-January.

In the meantime, amazingly (with the exception of the baking!) I think I am pretty much ready for the 25th, and I am making progress of crafty projects...

I wish you all a very happy christmas and look forward to catching up properly in 2012...

constancy...

Since my last post life has turned itself somehow upside down...

Lots of change happening and it has been painful and difficult and will probably continue to be for some time. Too difficult to go into here - suffice to say, I am unlikely to manage any more garden mid month pics and I haven't taken even one of the photos for the scavenger hunt this month. And am not likely to. At some point I expect I will be able to bring you up to date - I have had some very kind and thoughtful messages which are appreciated and have helped hugely.

However...crochet has continued. In fact, I have probably done more in the last few weeks than I have managed for a while...in part because I have been diverting my attention with it and in part because Christmas is looming nearer and required me to get on with it!!

So, time for a quick update...

Progress on the ripple blanket...

I was a bit surprised to see just how much this has grown when I laid it out properly today - I think I am nearly there!!! Maybe a dozen or so more stripes then I think it will be time to tackle a border. If I'm honest I'm a little undecided about a border - maybe it doesn't need it? But then I always think a border just finishes things off? Any thoughts?

Whichever I do, I am enjoying the colours and the stripes and the rhythmic ripply creation of this blanket. Plus I am sleeping under this blanket-in-progress (unsewn ends and all!) and it is a lovely cosy layer.

The other makes are pressies...

You'll have to excuse the photos! Its not easy to take a picture from arms length, 'blind' - particularly when you are trying to keep your chin out of the way! You may remember I mentioned ages ago the King Cole Riot yarn I bought in Derbyshire - well it has been made into this lacy scarf...

This was an easy pattern of treble clusters that grew in no time and was quick to finish.

Plus...

...a twirly scarf! Again, very easy to do, just lots of trebles on a big hook but very loooong rows! This wool/acrylic blend does work up into lovely soft fabric and I do hope the recipients will like them! 

I have almost finished a second twirly scarf...

...only, irritatingly, I was just a little bit short and had to go and buy another ball today. Which means, of course, that there will be some over...!

Hope to get back into regular swing of blogland once things settle down, til then, thanks for popping by.

Sx

strange times...

The last couple of weeks have been very strange. Some professional and personal highs but an overwhelming feeling that things are 'not quite right'. 

And I can't quite explain, to myself or anyone else, how or why I feel like this. Change seems inevitable, and confusing and scary. I don't know if this will make any sense but I need to get some of this out of my head and try to be a bit more objective. Feel free to stop reading now - this post has no joy or colour and I can't find a happy place today. Its really just for my own 'therapy'.

A very long time ago I put myself into a 'box'. At the time, that was exactly where I thought I wanted to be. It felt like a safe place that represented independence and having a 'grown up' life. The trouble was, I wasn't grown up at all and didn't know who I was or how to think. And before very long, I think I realised that the box was going to feel very cramped and I might not have room to grow.

But by then my box was spinning along on life's path and there was a reason for me to be in that place - there were other people who needed me and my purpose was firmly tied to it.

For much of the time, this has been OK. It hasn't been an unhappy place all the time and probably one I should feel very grateful for. Which makes me feel particularly guilty that I feel the constraints so keenly now that I am not so 'needed'.

Over the last few years I have had a few opportunities to push open the lid and breathe some bright new air. And on a few occasions escape the box altogether for a while. And that has been liberating and stimulating and has helped me to finally learn some things about myself. But it has not always been easy to come back to the box and experiences outside feel like a separate world. 

I have no desire to hurt the people I love who are inevitably affected by any change. It seems that the world outside is an exciting and inviting place but what if I'm wrong? What if the lid springs shut and I lose everything and everyone connected with that previous safe place?

I feel as though I'm in a very lonely place and I know no-one else can give me any answers.  It has been suggested that I will never be happy, that I will always be looking for something else. I don't think that's true, but perhaps that is a risk?

I don't want to be sad and unhappy and I don't want to cause any more sadness and unhappiness. Neither do I want to pretend there is no problem and end up angry and bitter. I think life is too precious for that and all of us deserve better.

I don't know if this makes any sense - not sure it does to me really. 

Will try to find some happy things for next time.

Sx

finding the inner child...

Today has been grey, drizzly and generally grim. Difficult to feel enthusiastic about anything, let alone the thought of standing in a muddy field in the dark for best part of an hour.

But...the rain just stopped in time, the jacket potatoes and chilli were in the oven so we set off for the local fireworks display...

Our village is only small but it is renowned for its pretty spectacular firework display and attended by hundreds of people crowding onto the small private airfield.

The bonfire was already getting going by the time we arrived, chucking out an appreciable amount of heat even at a distance...

And there is something about fireworks that just rekindles that bit of child in me...

I think its that sense of anticipation combined with lovely colours and patterns...

I love the sound and the smells...

This one crackled like popping candy...

Its not quite the same going without excited small children in tow - the one big person who came with us disassociated himself as soon as possible! But it still gave me a much needed buzz.

Hope you all had sparkly times tonight.

Sx

October photo hunting...

When I first saw Kathy's list for this month, I thought it was going to be a relatively easy one; in fact I had a couple in the bag within the first day or two and then... A combination of working long hours and lots going on has seriously cramped my opportunities for photo scavenging and most of the hallowe'eny ones eluded me completely! 

So, again, incomplete list I'm afraid - seriously short on imagination, I think my creative mojo is exhausted for the moment!

I didn't manage sunset (believe it or not, I don't think I have managed one night back from work before dark this month), something eerie, witches hat/broomstick or heritage but here are the rest...

Crunchy leaves

The light in the woods near to us was lovely at the weekend and, although you can't see it so well, the ground is strewn with fallen leaves.

Golden (1)

Golden (2)

Ok, this month's cheat category! I couldn't decide between these two, so you have both. I thought the dandelion was an unseasonal splash of bright golden yellow, but liked the golden light through the much more seasonal autumn leaves.

Fog or mist

Can't remember if I've already posted this photo? This was early in the month with the sun just coming up through thick early morning mist.

A river

This was a pretty river from my brief trip to the Derbyshire Dales.

Black cat

Next door's cat obligingly appeared on their roof of their shed and this photo was snapped with a telephoto lens hanging out of the bedroom window!

Candlelit

Pumpkin

Or pumpkins! We have a great market in our nearest city and these beauties were brightening up the pavement.

Graffiti

This is not a pretty one to finish with but was the only bit of graffiti/street 'art' I saw this month! Not a very arty specimen! Just through the arch was a really lovely park in the pretty town of Ashby-de-la-Zouch so this was kind of a surprise.

Off to have a look and see how others have got on this month!!

Oh just one more photo to end on a nicer one to look at...

Really enjoying the King Cole Riot! Its lovely and smooth, no snagging or splitting and makes lovely soft, drapy fabric. One Christmas pressie completed and another in progress (oh and the ripple sort of on hold again...oops!) - more of that another day!

Sx

first quilt reveal...!!

At risk of being excessive - this is going to be two posts in the same day! Mainly because I feel a need to keep on top of the things I have queuing up to post about and I am away in London for the next couple of days so know I won't have a chance again til the end of the week, by which time I expect there will be something else! I know that sounds a bit mad but I expect you know what I mean!!

Also, this felt like a completely separate thing to the last post and I wanted to keep them that way for clarity...so...on to quilting!!!

It's done!!

This is my first attempt at quilting, inspired by lots of gorgeous examples around blogland. I had been thinking about it for some time and had most of the fabric stashed away for 'when I had time'. Then I decided to just get on with it, with the idea of giving it to a friend who was moving and had been having a bad time.

I'm quite pleased with the end result; ok, should have made it a bit bigger for a double bed, and up close and personal some of the finishing is not perfect (how do people get their corners to mitre perfectly back and front? or do you not bother with that?!!) but overall I'm happy with it.

My only problem is...

...having helped my friend move house the week before last, I now realise this goes with nothing that she has!!! She has a houseful of muted purples, and browns and blues and I think this brightness might look out of place! Worse still, it might just get folded up and put in a cupboard and not used and I'm not sure I can bear the thought of all the work that went into it and it not being used!

Sooo...my dilemma is...do I give it to her anyway? After all, the idea was to give her something made with love for her new home... Or do I keep it, because I like it and it fits in here?!!!

I'm erring on the latter at the moment with a view to collecting the 'right' colours to do another for her - does that seem unreasonable?

I'm tempted to have a go at a quilt pattern I found in this magazine...

The light was a bit rubbish so I didn't take a photo but it has strips of large patches in different sizes - very effective.

I'd never seen this magazine before and it got me very excited! Lots of lovely ideas for projects in here!
Might have to sneak this one in now and again!!!

And one last bit of news for tonight that I just have to share because I'm bursting with it...! Results day finally arrived for my MSc dissertation today and I passed! This last 3 years, studying part-time (with no study leave and no let up at home) has been such a challenge that I can't quite believe its come to an end. I feel as though I have learnt loads and finally (I know this is ridiculous...), finally, I can put to bed my rubbish A-levels and think I must have a reasonable brain after all!!! Yay!

I just can't quite believe my Dad's response was 'what next?'!!! Life, crochet, friends, reading...all that stuff that I've had to squeeze in round the edges!

Til next time then
Sx

mid-month photo and October in the garden...

If you visit here regularly you'll know I've been taking a photo of my garden on 15th of each month to try to get a feel for the changes that happen through the year. I've tried to take it from almost the same place but have to admit that has probably drifted a bit because in January I hadn't anticipated the amount the trees would grow over the year! I am not feeling very inspired by this little project as, to be honest, I realise now that, at least from a distance, my garden looks pretty samey much of the time! So I've tried each month to add some snippets of colour or interest from around the garden and, because I'm not very good at letting things go part way through, I will persevere until the end of the year!

October 15th was bright and crisp and surprisingly difficult to photograph! The sun was very low in the sky and from the house, casting long shadows down the garden which made the light have strong contrasts.

The leaves have gone from several of the trees already and much of the borders are looking a bit tired and tatty. I am working with the theory that its much better for the insects to have somewhere to hide out in the cold weather so am not going to go out and tidy until the spring! I get much more pleasure out of the wildlife than pulling up weeds so it can just stay as it is!

There is a bit of colour out there still...

The late September burst of heat has meant that almost all the tomatoes have ripened this year. Given the huge glut of plum chutney from earlier in the year, probably good we don't have a glut of green tomatoes too!

The sedums are always good value...

and the creeper and the holly berries add a splash of red to brighten things up...

From the bottom of the garden the sun was just beginning to appear over the top of the roof and the sun was streaming down...

I'm not good with this time of year. I hate the approach of winter with its dark mornings and evenings and am permanently cold. It makes me feel as though I'm meant to go into some dormant state somewhere until the sun comes out again (this could be 6 months in the UK!). But when I look at these pictures I realise that even on the cold days there is sunshine and colour and that lifts my spirits. This year I am going to try very hard to look for the lovely bits to keep me going - there are things I love, candlelit evenings, crisp winter walks, snuggly blankets, warming winter soups, family time... I just need to keep reminding myself its not all grey and cold!

Sx

Derbyshire dales...

Thanks for lovely comments on my last couple of posts - seems there are a few people out there enjoying the rippling fest that is going on in blogland at the moment! I feel encouraged to keep going with it!

A couple of weeks ago I managed to escape for a couple of days to Derbyshire, partly to visit son 2 who is living and working just south of Derby and partly because I had a burning desire to walk up hills! I know that sounds a bit daft but when you live in East Anglia hills are in very short supply and, for me anyway, nothing beats that satisfaction of getting to the top of a hill/mountain. I love that sense of achievement, combined with the feeling of the world spread out beneath you. Even small peaks have this effect on me, it might be just a valley or a small patch of countryside beneath me but it still takes my breath away for a few minutes (or maybe that's just my lack of fitness climbing the hill???!!!).

Unfortunately, this was the week the weather was just beginning to turn and so it was a bit grey and windy but undeterred I set off at 8am when S was heading off to work and was in the Dales and walking by 9am.

Not the most auspicious start to a footpath...

However, I set off past the gents and the path soon opened out...

It really wasn't a difficult path to follow but very pleasant through a gentle valley and through young woodland...

...past a bubbling stream...

The odd sheep gave me a cursory glance as I walked past...

Believe it or not, this bit was steeper than it looks...!

I had to stop at the top of this bit for what is known in our family as a 'tactical gawp'!! Once I'd got my breath back I followed the path into a track that passed a derelict barn...

and then this wide spread of countryside appeared...

Not dramatic, in the way that the Lake District or the Scottish Highlands are, but very easy on the eye all the same, even with grey skies. I don't think the photos really do it justice.

More animal life...

Isn't the brown one in the middle pretty?! (or is that just me?!!)

Just as I was beginning to hallucinate about tea and cake (essential component of any good English walk, I always feel!), this appeared, with a sign just out of shot that said cafe!!!

This is a Jacobean mansion, which for many years now has been Hartington Youth Hostel - and made a great cup of tea!!

I had a bit of a dilemma at this point as, according to my little book of 'Circular walks in the Derbyshire Dales' this first walk should have taken about 5 hours. I was sipping my tea ten minutes from the starting point at 11.30 so I think this was something of an underestimation! I do like to stride out and feel I've had a proper leg stretch but I don't walk that fast!! A quick look at the OS map and I decided to head a bit further North and satisfy that 'Up' itch! So back in the car and up towards Macclesfield to walk up a little peak called Shutingsloe. 

I took the approach from the South East, from a little village called Wildboarclough from where you could see the hill across the valley...

This was a short sharp walk - the top is only just over 500m, but you are rewarded with great views across Cheshire and even in the rather bleak skies that day it was worth it...

It was sooo windy up here, I could barely keep on my feet or hold the camera still! But it certainly blew a few cobwebs away and was just what I needed.

The next morning dawned brighter but very cold - one of those crisp autumn mornings - so I just took a quick trip into Ashby-de-la-Zouch before heading back across to Norfolk. This is a pretty little market town and lovely to walk round early. The light was lovely on the castle...

and the fallen leaves were glowing in that low Autumn sunshine...

And... to top my couple of days, I found a very cute little crafty shop with some yummy yarns so it had to be done...

This is King Cole Riot DK - a wool and acrylic blend - and is just so soft and scrumptiously squishy. I have Christmas presents in mind and bought a pattern (I think this is the first time I've ever bought a crochet pattern, other than the odd book)...

I have a couple of people in mind for these scarves - perfect projects for the next couple of train trips to London I thought! Will let you know how I get on! 

I have loads more to share but feel this has gone on long enough! Will try to catch up with myself over the next couple of days - I have this months garden pics and some finished objects to share with you, plus update on the rippling...