And quickly on to winter.... brrrr!

Autumn didn't really hang around very long - it's definitely winter now. I know this because the roads are all white, there's a blizzard outside and the car is going nowhere. Probably not even to work tomorrow by the look of things. Hmm. Better go and make a pot of soup before I start the day's knitting!

So here's the world from the third floor.

Nice to get a bit of sun amidst the blizzards! Doesn't last long though!

And so to autumn...

And the need to use up stash in covering extremities! So this bout of chest infection inspired knitting has come up with two pairs of wristwarmers - the pink alpaca and a 2x2 rib that didn't make the photoshoot - a cabled cowl (very cosy) - a calorimetry that really does keep the head warm and works with hair up - cabley fingerless gloves to match the cowl - and last but not least I finished off the blanket! At least I hope it's finished - it still looks a tad narrow on the bed....

Spring?

Dishcloth mania is continuing ... I went back to work this work which of course entails spending a lot of time on a train (two times 6 hour journeys!) so took some cotton with me. What I didn't expect was that the lovely dark green in the sunflower variegated shades used above would come off all over me and my bamboo needles. Probably the only time I've been green fingered in my life. Ah well, I found most of it came off with travel wipes. Most. I loved these patterns though. I now have the Ballband Dishcloth on needles. It's fun too.And it was a sunny day and on looking out the train window I realised I was passing all these spring like ploughed fields. Is winter really over?

Blankets of snow

Gosh it was fascinating sitting watching those great big snow flakes all flurrying down this afternoon.... off and on in mini blizzards all day! Not as bad here as some other places, but still made you feel good to be sitting inside knitting a blanket!This is the Moderne Log Cabin from Mason-Dixon Knitting, which kind of slipped into my Amazon basket one night in January, and I've had great fun with it so far with felted boxes and now trying out this blanket. I'm using a mixed bargain bag I brought back from Shetland last year, in Heather Aran, all naturals, so will need to amend the square sizes I think just to fit what I've got, but that'll be all part of the fun! The cough is still there and feels more like a good old fashioned head cold now ... wonder what tomorrow will bring!

Solstice Celebration

Well all the winter wonderland scenes of the last post have kind of set the scene I guess, so now it's the shortest day of the year. I've had a few days off and sorted and cleaned and tidied, and even decorated the heart wreath and put a few other decs out and cards up. I won't be here on Christmas day itself so am not putting the tree and all the decs up but one or two have sneaked out of the cupboard! OH is coming over for dinner tonight so it'll be a solstice celebration I guess!

Travelling through Narnia...

Or so it seemed, some pics on my mobile phone from the train window at the weekend.

More July catch ups!

August was so busy workwise, that this is me just sitting down to scrap for the first time in ages... and catching up on another July page! This was our team challenge on UKS for the Bitty Blossoms, where we are running a Book of Months (or seasons) with Willow setting challenges. July was about the Celtic tree month of Holly, so I took these photos at Alnwick Castle when we were on our hols in July - looking through the castle doors to a big holly bush! It was strange as I always associate holly with December and Christmas, but of course it's all year round, and the young green leaves were so vibrant.

Well it does kind of feel that summer's over, so here's a few snaps from my hols in July. Sand castle on the beach, the Roman baths at Chester fort, patterns in the stonework at the Lindisfarne Priory, the doorway at Alnwick Castle, and the embroidery I did this summer!

April and May

Up to date again! Wonder how long it'll last for this time ... These are the next two in the Bitty Blossoms book of months/seasons, following Willow's prompts. April was about spring, flowers and space. May was about Mayday, Beltane, male and female together and partnerships.

And the months go flying by...

In January my UKS team - the Bitty Blossoms - decided to do a book of months with prompts set by team member Willow. They're great prompts, but I have only now got round to starting. Well, work kind of gets in the way of playing sometimes. But having finished Shimelle's No Place Like Home class, and made the book for Save the Day (still to bind and take piccies) I thought I should try to catch up. I love the feeling of being caught up - it's very special as it's so fleeting!

So the January prompt was 'something that makes you smile in January' - something we all need! And this is me dancing with my nephew just after the bells on Hogmanay!

The February prompt was that as the moon was in Virgo it's a good time to break bad habits, so focus on a bad habit on a lo and leave lots of white space. This is my thoughtful pressie from above nephew to help my bad habit breaking - a little diet police radar - it shouts at you when open the biscuit tin!! My bad habit is of course that I eat too much.March saw the Spring Equinox, new beginnings and rebirth - so we had to focus on something new. Here I am in my new shirt painting easter eggs.

What season does this say to you?

My UKS team do fortnightly challenges in a 6x6 format, and this one was to scrap your favourite season or time of the year, but, wait for it (and this was hard for me) without words... So, hopefully this piccie taken almost 20 years ago, will say summer to anyone looking at it (I think the hat helps!), long lazy days sitting beside a waterfall.... ah if only!