Sunday 31 October 2010

NOT MORE SOCKS...... are those for me?


 Well here we are again. Another Sunday evening comes around and another week has flown by. Half-term has passed by in a flash. I spent last weekend catching up on housey jobs, before setting off on the five and a half hour drive up to Manchester, to see baby Sophie. I came home late on Thursday, drove a one hour forty minute round trip on Friday, for Oscar's second hydrotherapy swim..... all of four minutes, and then seem to have spent most of this weekend shifting role between plumber and plumber's mate! Nothing ever happens simply in our house! Our kitchen was remodelled about seventeen years ago and all of the appliances were new at the same time. The washing machine and tumble drier have since been replaced. Neeedless to say, the rest are all arriving at the end of their useful lives at exactly the same time. This weekend , it was the turn of the fridge-freezer to be replaced (no probs there) and the dishwasher. I won't bore you with the details, save to say, that our kitchen has looked like a bomb site for most of the weekend and that we do now have a newly installed, not leaking, functioning correctly dishwasher. HOORAY! It's the turn of the cooker next! I don't want to think about it, so I won't.

So, apart from the plumbing fiasco, a very pleasant week has been spent by old Snoops. The photo above is of Chorlton Park in Manchester. My son and his family live five minutes away, so it is ideal for dog walking. Scott loves finding the muddiest puddles on the planet! Sorry about the poor quality photo. It was a mobile upload.


Sophie is changing so quickly, it's hard to keep up. She's now five months old and has just begun to sit up on her own and take great notice of Scott. I must show you two or three of pics  that I took of them this week.




I knew not too much knitting would get done, whilst there was a scrumptious little granddaughter to cuddle, but I did make some progress with the 'Raspberry Coulis' mystery socks. The last part of the pattern (the toe) was released on Friday and I have managed to finish the first sock off this afternoon.


The pattern is really effective, with a wide rib continuing from the 'little trowels' pattern , down the heel flap and also down into the toe. A very well thought out design. I just have to knit the other one now!


I've also started a simple ribbed pair for my son (Sophie's dad). He always jokes that I seem to do nothing else but knit socks, but they are never for him. He chose the yarn himself from what little sock yarn there is to choose from in John Lewis. I don't think he appreciate the hand-dyed or hand-spun variety!!! I've used the Basic Ribbed Sock by Kate Atherley. It's a free Ravelry download, which can be made in three sizes. With any luck, he may find them in his Christmas stocking!


I picked up three balls of this Aran weight yarn from the 'Sew-In' shop in Disdsbury. It's 'creative poems' aran, by Rico. It's a yarn that I hadn't seen before this summer and I was very taken with the really pretty colour combination. It's 100% wool and make a warm little cardi for Sophie.


I received a lovely little surprise this morning, just as the end of the plumbing trauma was in sight; two jars of delicious-looking homemade preserves from our kind neighbour, a jar of quince jelly and a jar of crabapple and chilli relish. I had to show you because I was very taken with the lovely lids and labels..... oh yes, and those gorgeously shaped 'Bonne Maman' jam jars. I'm easily pleased!


Just time to leave you with a photo of the Ladybower Reservoir, taken from the Snake Pass as I came home on Thursday. I know the sky wasn't blue and the sun wasn't shining, but oh, I do so love the drive across the Penines, whatever the weather.


Ahh! A great half-term and some cherished memories to see me through the week back at school. Have a good one!

15 comments:

Sarah said...

I love the Scott and Sophie picture! Also the one of Scott with his muddy nose. Have a lovely week!

Teje said...

Hello Ros and Oscar! I always wait your Sunday post and can't understand how I didn't see last Sunday's...both last posts are wonderful with beautiful photos! It's so nice to have small animals in the garden! At my father's house they often look inside from the window!
Sophie is so qute and so tiny with Oscar!
That pattern for socks is really beautiful - would be lovely in a sweater too!
I hope Oscar likes is swimming therapy!
Hugs from Teje and Nero

bellaboo said...

Lovely to see Sophie and Scott getting acquainted! Sorry to hear about your appliance problems.Nothing worse than having the kitchen out of action! Hope your week goes well. :o)

Kathy said...

Love the photo of the very dirty dog - made me laugh out loud when I scrolled down! Sophie is just gorgeous too!
Poor you with kitchen trouble ... we've had bouts in the recent past but we can usually cope with most things (we can use our caravan which is parked on the drive) all except the washing machine. I cannot live without the washing machine!!!!
Have a good week! Love Kathy xxx

Unknown said...

Oh Scott,
u get to have so much fun! Your human pup is so cute:)

Love the countryside pictures...

Happy Halloween,
Buddy, Ginger n Mummy too

josiekitten said...

Love the photo of Scott's dirty snout!!! And Sophie looks very cute in her stripy cardigan! Hope Oscar's swimming is helping him to recuperate. Your raspberry coulis sock is lovely - the yarn is such a gorgeous colour! Have a good week! xxx

kate said...

OK, Sophie chewing on Scott's butt is priceless.

Looks like you had a good relaxing week!

Hope Oscar's swimming is helping - in the four minutes?

Appliances, wonderful things but such a pain when they go.

Have a good week!

Lynne said...

What lovely photos, thanks for sharing them! I love the raspberry sock, the pattern is fab. You have my sympathy with the plumbing disasters. These things are definately sent to try us!

Jennyff said...

A few domestic problems are nothing when you have such lovely distractions in your life, like yarn and gorgeous little Sophie. Love the picture of her taking a nibble at Scott, he is so good natured, and I love her woolly garments, she is a lucky little girl.

Fiona said...

I am in awe of your knitting prowess.

Tracy said...

Oh, my goodness just LOVE that photo of Sophie taking a bite out of Scott...haha... And the muddy look Oscar is sporting... oh, my! Hope he likes his swim therapy--great idea. Such yummy wools, Ros...mmm... Has my knitting needles itching. ;o) Glad you've been having some great days... ((HUGS))

Stadtwaldvogel said...

Thanks for sharing the cute pictures of little Sophie! She looks older now and I have spotted her wearing your cardi!
Have a great week!
Julia

Susan McShannon-Monteith said...

Your mastering of the socks just amazes me.
Leave it to a lab to find the most comfortable place to lie, the immediate food source and of course the mud hole.
Your little Sophie is growing so fast.
Hope you're enjoying the week.
Susan x

melissa said...

oh my sophie is just adorable - love the shot of her giving the pupper a run for his money!

sorry about your plumbing woes, nothing's ever easy, is it? but i'm glad you've gotten a new dishwasher. sounds like you need it!!

Sarah said...

Thanks Ros. I am glad you liked my post. I feel so strongly about it, and I feel better for having tried to express how I feel. Nearly the weekend-hope you have a good one!