A SNOWY CHRISTMAS TO REMEMBER.....

Hello there. Brrr! It's still pretty cold here, but all the snow has just about cleared here in the city. However, last week it was a very different story. I took the photos above, whilst driving through a much more rural part of Norfolk last Wednesday (23rd). I can't ever remember seeing such beautiful snowy landscapes.

I hope you have had a lovely Christmas in which ever way was 'lovely' for you! We have had a great time and still have our adult children and their partners with us and .... Scott, our little labrador grand-dog. Here he is on Christmas morning. He had been out for an early morning run (hence his tinselled collar still on.... he doesn't usually wear his collar indoors), and then gone for a quick nap to build up he energy before opening his pressies.


I love him to bits ...... How could you not?


Santa was very generous again this year and I received some lovely woolly gifts. Mr Snoopydog once again made a solo trip to Norfolk Yarn and chose some gorgeous Manos del Uruguay Silk Blend. Just enough for a jumper. I love the colour and the silky soft feel of this gorgeous yarn.


Miss Snoopydog 2 gave me this beautiful skein of sock yarn, from one of my favourite dyers, The Laughing Yaffle.



This fun book of whacky toys to knit, was given to me by Miss Snoopydog 2. Just 'the thing', to help me make toys for my little grand-daughter ( yes, a little girl!), who is due to be born next May.



I feel suitably spoiled and want to cast on straight away, but no! I must exert my willpower (hmm I don't have much of that!) and get my November and December socks completed first. The November pair will hopefully be finished tomorrow and I will try and show you the finished pair during the week. As for my December socks, well, they have rather a long way to go yet. Hopefully though, I will manage to complete my 2009 sock challenge by twelve o'clock midnight on December 31st. Hmmm.... There's going to need to be much more of a concentrated effort I think. Better get started! Bye for now. Hope to see you during the week.

LET IT SNOW..........

Hello there! Don't you just love this winter wonderland.




Whoohoo! I just love it; the snow, that is! It made a 'very tired' end of term turn into a much more interesting and exciting one. Many schools in the county were closed on Friday, but as mine is bang in the centre of the city, it always manages to open. The children loved it and the day was filled with festive music, christmas decoration making and watching 'Polar Express'. It's the most beautiful children's Christmas film ever!


We had already made reindeer cards, seasons calendars, sparkly angels and dried fruit circles, besides all the other bits and bobs. The birds and the sequinned circles were made amidst the snow of last Friday and suspended on our 6 ft branch!!!

The snow has continued to fall on and off throughout the weekend and I just love it. I haven't ventured anywhere. I've turned up the heat, turned on the twinkly lights, marzipaned the cake, started to wrap the pressies and knitted!!!! HEAVEN!

I've managed a small amount of progress on my now overdue November socks and some on my December pair, but to tell you the truth, I am feeling rather 'socked' out at the moment. I did however, spend yesterday evening and this afternoon making very cute little Christmas stockings; one each for us all on Christmas day. Even Scott has one! Well, there's no reason at all why he should be left out, now is there! Here they are. What do you think? I made each one slightly different and now just need to fill them with chocolate (doggy sweets for Scott, as chocolate can make dogs very ill). There are seven here....... I've now completed number 8, so all done. Yippee!


Oh, before I forget, let me tell me about something that made me very, very happy this week. I really love watching out for garden wildlife and as I drew open the curtains on Friday, to our new white winter wonderland, two beautiful foxes were scampering and playing in the newly fallen snow. It was magical. I watched for some time, even though I couldn't spare the time as my 'getting up' on a school day time is cut fine to the very last minute! But it was the last day of term, so there wasn't too much to get ready and wanted to get some photos. Needless to say, they didn't come out too well. The foxes were too far away for little snappy camera. You can just see them though and I really do want to share them with you.






They had even been up to our front door. Maybe they wanted to come in and warm up!


During the night on Friday,around 2.30pm we were awoken by the most awful wailing sound. I have never heard a foxes cry before, but somehow we knew it was them. As we looked out of the window, sure enough there they were, only now there were three. It was obvious that a courting ritual was taking place, as the third fox was rapidly dispatched whilst the other two got on with the business........... for nearly an hour. Next morning, needless to say, no-one else in the Snoopydog household shared my enthusiasm for these beautiful creatures.

Even earlier in the week, a lovely squishy parcel arrived. I have no need for stash enhancement of any kind, but when an e-mail drops into my mailbox advertising Regia sock yarn at £1.20 a ball and Rowan kits for £4.99, how could one resist! The bargains are to be had at Kemps. Here's what I bought.....


Some of the sock yarn I shall give away as a Christmas gift. The Rowan matinee jacket kit, including three balls of 'cashsoft', was £5.99 and as I have a first grandchild due next May, it will be put to very good use.

Just before I go, I wanted to show you Frosty. He appeared on our snow laden lawn this morning, after several hours of labouring by Mr S and Miss S2. I think he has a very appealing, fun-loving personality that shines through his frozen exterior.



As the sun went down, he was still smiling!



I raise my, now nearly empty red wine glass, to the eagerly anticipated convivial Christmas fun, family homecoming, friends visiting, good food and wine, snow and TIME TO KNIT!






Wishing you all a very happy Christmas and peaceful 2010!

CHRISTMAS IS COMING......

....... this week Christmas really began. There is a certain special magic about working with young children at this time of year and it definitely rubs off on me. On Wednesday we had some very special visitors at school; Santa dropped in with two of his reindeer and a couple of elves. It was a very exciting day! Rather than the science of wrapping hard-boiled eggs in different protective materials and dropping them to see which one would be best to wrap our 'worlds' in, before putting them in boxes to send off to the aliens who are buying them ( yes, I know! It's best not to ask!!!!!), we found ourselves stroking Santa's reindeer.


They took shelter in the bandstand decorated with ivy. A walkway allowed the children to come and see the reindeer up close. Santa brought Vixen and Comet with him.




He told the pupils some simple educational facts about his reindeer, like: both male and females have antlers, they have broad hooves that act as good snowshoes and are well designed for digging through snow - up to 3ft!- to find food. Reindeer are well insulated to keep warm and can lay on snow without melting it - so that it provides a comfy bed. Their noses are completely furry so that they can eat in the snow without getting cold; they roam over large distances. Did you know all that about reindeer?



Well, my class of 7 year olds do now! As they left, each child received a mummy and baby gingerbread reindeer. Such a magical day!



Aaahhhh!




I had to explain to two of my class that Santa had come to visit because he had heard such good things about our school. They were concerned, because they thought he should have been getting all his presents ready. We reassured them that he had left plenty of other elves getting on with the job!

Well, Wednesday definitely made my kind of Christmas begin for me. So, here is our teeny tiny tree and our much much bigger tree, in all their glory. Hope you approve!

First up is the teeny tiny tree.....



Next, the much much bigger tree....

Please note that neither tree has chocolates on yet. They will appear on Christmas Eve, because if I were to put them on the branches now........ sadly, they would not still be there by Christmas Eve. So, best to play safe.

Here are just a couple more shots of favourite Christmassy decoration bits from our around our home.




Oh, before I forget, you'll be glad to hear that I have been doing some knitting. I managed to finish the first of my November socks. Yes, I know I'm a month late, but I promise that bothe the November and December pair will be complete before the end of the challenge on December 31st.

What do you think!





I've also begun the final pair of the 2010 Sock Challenge. Here is progress so far ......


The pattern is easy and shows off the yarn really well. The colours are fabulous. But..... the Araucania yarn has a certain halo around it, which makes me think that it may well be tricky to wash and may felt quite easily. Lets wait and see shall we, rather that being too pessimistic before even one sock is finished!

I had hoped to show you some pics of one or two of the special ornaments on the big, big tree, but as I accidentally deleted over half the post a short while ago, and as it is now 10.45 pm and seeing as how I need to be all bright and Christmassy at school tomorrow, as it's our Christmas Concert day....................... and I still have to complete that hard-boiled egg experiment and make reindeer Christmas cards................. I think I need to call it a day.

Goodnight all! Hope you have a productive week .

SOCKS, YARN AND LITTLE TREES....

The past week has been packed full, what with Christmas concert singing practices, trying to get all our project work finished, updating assessments, making lesson observations, writing up lesson observations, leading a staff meeting, organising assemblies..... and that's without any mention of teaching my class of very excited seven and eight year olds. They do all still believe in Father Christmas and so the magic is still there, but only just; another year and it will be gone. So, the classroom tree is up, the Advent calendar is a work in progress and this week Christmas really begins. We have reindeer visiting the school on Wednesday. How exciting is that! I'll try to get some photos to show you.

I have found time, or rather made time, to knit because I felt under huge pressure to get my Christmas present socks completed. Hooray! I have succeeded. The yarn is Schoeller+Stahl Fortissima Colori Socka Color . The colours were perfect for my friend who will be receiving the socks for Christmas, but I have not been happy with it and would not choose to knit with it again. It feels rather rough and is not very stretchy and, well, it just doesn't set my heart a skipping when I knit with it. Anyway, they are done and dusted and I'm certain my pal will love them. As I am not too happy with the yarn, I will offer to knit her another pair for her birthday, if she would like me to.

I ventured out into the city to Christmas shop on Saturday morning. I arrived bright and early and had a very successful morning, beating the crowds and crossing everything off my list. In fact I was home before I had planned and so I dropped off my shopping and walked back down to meet Mr Snoopydog for lunch. He had gone into his office for the morning to clear a backlog of 'must be dones'. I popped into John Lewis for a couple of gifts and completely unknowingly, ended up in the wool and fabric department. I have no idea how I ended up there or how three balls of Debbie Bliss 'Baby Cashmerino' and a ball of Rowan 'Shimmer' ended up in my basket at the checkout counter. They definitely were NOT on my list, but being as it's nearly Christmas, I guess they'll be put to good use. Take a look at the lovely Christmassy colours....... yummy!



I feel an urge for Santas, angels, snowflakes, stockings and holly to be made. Will there be time? Who knows! No pressure though, because I deliberately gave myself a 'one item ' Christmas knitting list this year, after last year's flap to get everything done. So, anything extra is a bonus!!

We popped out this morning to deliver our turkey order. We have bought a bronze Christmas turkey from the same friend of ours for many years now and it never fails to please. They are reared completely happily on his small farm and allowed to roam free. So, why does that still set my heart a flutter. I am a meat eater and I love the flavour of turkey. It's just that, I am also an animal lover. I have had this debate going on in my head forever! Maybe I'm just not strong-willed enough to call it a day with meat. Or, maybe it's okay, because that's the way the animal kingdom works. Who knows the right answer, I guess no-one for sure.

On the way back we called in at a local garden centre to buy a teeny tiny tree. We have a big artificial tree in our sitting room, but I love to have a teeny, tiny, real, rooted tree sitting in our front window. I shall decorate next weekend, a little earlier than usual. Since the year that our son left for university and during the years that his two sisters followed, it has become a tradition, that the house is Christmassed up before they arrive home for the holidays. Our youngest returns home from Kosovo next Saturday, so I am taking that as the signal to say 'yes' it's okay now to let Christmas in. Here's the teeny tiny one .......



It's such a sweet little tree. It has a good shape and a lovely pine-needly smell. I fell in love immediately and it could be no other. Mr Snoopydog has put the teeny, tiny tree in the greenhouse to harden off for a week before being brought into the house next weekend. We wouldn't want the shock of our central heating to put an end to our beautiful little tree, now would we. I am feeling so happy with our little fir!

Oh, nearly forgot to show you my final sock yarn of the year. Yes, I know the November pair are still not complete, but they will be. I have got on a little further with them and have almost reached the heel on the first sock, so watch this space next weekend for some update photos. This months yarn is an Araucania multi. The colours are just gorgeous. I have very lazily decided to use a pattern called 'Primavera' tried by my my pal josiekitten last month. I just know it's right for my yarn, so why waste time looking elsewhere. Thanks josiekitten; yours look fabulous!




Well that's about all for this week my lovelies. It's nearly time for bed and I still have my lunch for tomorrow to make and a bit of tidying up to do........ before I, hopefully, wake refreshed and ready to begin another busy, 'build up' to Christmas, week in the classroom. I need to think of a good idea for a calendar tonight! I always formulate my best creative ideas in the middle of the night. Hmmm!

Have a lovely week everyone and see you again next weekend, if not before!

RUNNING FOR GOOD CAUSES......

It's been an exciting day today. We have been watching the weather forecast for the last few days and were slightly worried when the heavens opened up and the rain poured down at around 10am this morning. We had just arrived at the local agricultural showground to watch our youngest daughter run her first half-marathon. We had made the same trip last year and the year before, but then it was to support our son and his wife in their endeavours. It always rains!!!!

Today, all was good, as the rain stopped, the black clouds passed away and beautiful blue skies reigned for the rest of the morning. A rainbow greeted the start of the run.



Off they went!


We watched, had a cup of coffee, watched, had another cup of coffee, cheered, watched, laughed. applauded, watched ...........





....... for 2hours and 15 minutes......... until.....


...... Miss Snoopydog 2 crossed the finished line. She was ecstatic! She was excited! She was relieved!

Training had been solitary and hadn't always run to plan. Injuries had upset training plans. But at the end of the day a good amount of sponsorship money had been raised to help a school in rural Uganda, where she had worked as a volunteer for the summer after completing her studies at Bristol Uni.



Well done! We are very proud of you!

Knitting has made slow progress, but I have now completed the first of the pair of Jaywalkers that I making for a friend as a Christmas gift.





The colours are lovely but the yarn knits up very slowly! Hopefully they will be finished by next wekend.

So much for Christmas knitting. This is all there is so far. Oh no! Good job I didn't have too much planned for this year, after last year's manic 'got to get it done at all costs' mentality. I decided I didn't want to go there again this year, so anything extra I make will be a bonus. Maybe one or two tree decorations, inspired by my friend josiekitten and maybe the odd washcloth or two at the last minute for stocking fillers and that will be about it. I want to get my Rowan Cocoon jumper started next weekend, so ....... watch this space.

Have a good week everyone.

BLAH! BLAH! BLAH!

.................. or rather, NOTHING TO REPORT! It's been that kind of week again. I've had so much school work to do, both at school and at home, that knitting and blogging have taken a back seat once again. We are off to take part in the monthly quiz at our 'local' in about an hour's time, so I thought I should at least come and say 'hello' before we go.

My knitting has been slow this week. I am trying very hard to finish the pair of socks that I am making for a friend as a Christmas present. Needless to say, progress has been very, very slow and not even worth taking a photo of :(.

My Cora scarf is also making slow progress and that's because I only have plastic size 7's and they are really yucky to use with the 'Colourscape'. It seems to stick! I do have a very nice pair of birchwood 7's, but they are so long that they get caught in the bend of my arm with every stitch. I think they must have been made with an orang utang in mind! So, at present, my poor Cora is on hold.

It's much the same story with my November socks; on hold until there are 50 hours in a day! I'll catch them up once the Jaywalkers for Jools are finished.

On a brighter note, a little packet of sock yarn skeins popped through my door yesterday morning. Such excitement! They were from my good pal josiekitten. So last evening, when I know I should have been getting on with the serious matter of Christmas sock completion, but not needing too much encouragement to bring Blankie out for an airing, I settled down to knit four more squares, one in each colourway. Here are the little skeins ....



And here is my Blankie +4!



I wonder if you can spot the four new squares that have been added from the little skeins. Unfortunately, there is only a tiny glimpse of the lovely green square visible. My bad photography to blame there! I didn't keep my eye on all four squares.

It did get me thinking, how it's such strange phenomenon and one that is not often to be found elsewhere, that each of my little squares has a name of it's own; a name descended from its elders in the form of the pair of socks that were made of the yarn. So, last night I knitted 'Eat your Greens' and 'Waving Sweetpeas' to name but two! Made me chuckle inside myself as I sat and thought about it. Probably a good job that I'm going out tonight, because otherwise I might hear you saying ' ........ Snoopydog needs to get out more!!!'

Not so sure about the 'going out' now, as I can hear the wind howling and the rain lashing against the window panes. It started off as a lovely late November morning. The sun was shining and I grabbed my camera to 'snap' the bluetits and finches on the bird feeder this morning, before settling down to some work ready for school tomorrow. Needless to say, they had all vanished by the time the camera was ready. I caught this little chap on the fence though. I think he's a regular, because I have photographed him before in the same position on the fence. He sits there for ages! Don't ask me how I know it's him, I just do.



Here's a pic of our garden, also taken this morning. Sorry about the poor quality. I was rushing; feeling guilty that, here I was taking pics when I had lots and lots to do. It's called procrastination and I'm an expert!


Anyway, the work did get done, and I've had time to come and say 'hello' and I'll enjoy a swift pint and a natter with our friends over at the quiz. So all's well!

Have a good week, whatever you're up to!

OCTOBER AFTERNOON ........ IN NOVEMBER!

Hello there! Sunday evening has come around again. The weekend seems to have flown by in a blur of wind, rain, schoolwork, washing, ironing (yes, I do some!), schoolwork, visiting, schoolwork and .......... YES! Some knitting! The weather was so appalling yesterday, with very strong winds and heavy rain showers lashing against the windows, that I decided to 'button down the hatches', get my jobs done, curl up on the sofa and KNIT! Don't get me wrong. I'm not really complaining about the weather. In fact, I'm thanking the rain for giving me every good reason to snuggle down for the afternoon with my 'October Afternoon' jumper and the gorgeously squishy Colinette yarn. I had three quarters of the second sleeve to complete, all the borders and the dreaded sewing up. Do you know what? I did it!

Today, as Sunday morning dawned clear and bright, Mr Snoopydog and I strolled down into the city to change library books and have our usual Sunday 'al fresco' coffee. We nearly always 'coffee al fresco' despite the often inclement English weather. We consider ourselves to be of the hardy type, who don't mind too much a downpour of rain, or a gale, or a snowstorm. Oh yes, we much prefer the lovely warm sun to be shining down upon us as we coif, but to breathe in the great outdoors is always infinitely preferable to sitting inside, at any time of year. On the way home we stopped of at John Lewis to buy some buttons for the aforementioned finished garment. I have looked for buttons a couple of times since beginning my cardi, but found nothing that seemed exactly right. I matched about ten different buttons against my yarn today. Although I had a definite preference for something small, simple, brown and wooden, when it came to the crunch .... they just didn't look right. You'll see what I finally chose in the pics coming up.

I am really pleased with my finished cardi. Even the sewing up looks flat and neat! The Colinette yarn was gorgeous to work with and beautifully coloured. The pattern was easy to read and accurate and the sizing perfect.
Here it is!




I loved the moss stitch neckband and front bands. They are narrow, lay absolutely flat and just do their job!


Sorry the next pic is a little weird; I'm not good at taking pics of myself whilst looking in the mirror to try to see what I am taking a picture of!!!



I have two skeins of this lovely yarn left. What shall I use it for? Mittens, gloves? I 'll have to decide.

I hope you like it. It's not my normal kind of style, but I had already tried three patterns and frogged each one, because either the yarn pooled or it just didn't suit the pattern. This pattern was written for the yarn, so it did suit! I like it!

Needless to say, there has been very little progress on either my 'November' socks or the 'Jaywalkers' for Jools. I must finish both pairs and my 'Cora' scarf before beginning anything else. What will you bet that that DOESN'T HAPPEN! I have that bag, full of gorgeous Rowan Cocoon that I showed you last week ................................. We'll see!

Have a good week everyone! :D