TREATS.............

 Good evening! Another frazzled Sunday evening has come around again, as I try to juggle schoolwork, planning, cooking, ironing, blogging and squeeze in a little time for some knitting. Can you guess what my little treat is? You can't? Well let me fill you in.Last Sunday evening, after reading Ozzy Blackbeard's post on her blog, I decided the time had come make a small purchase to aid the future woolly adventures of Snoopydog. I have looked longingly at the handmade swifts for a while now and also 'watched' several not so nice models on e-bay. Having ventured over to the Brownberry Yarns home to have a look, I clicked the 'buy now' button without a second thought.

 The service is really excellent and this little beauty arrived very swiftly :) on Tuesday morning, straight from the maker 'Sunflower Swifts and Spindles'. I love it! The swifts are made from ethically sourced hardwood and smell beautifully of wood oil. I haven't used it yet, as I really musn't be tempted to start yet another project just yet.

 Friday evening was time to settle down and knit up the next step of the 'Through the Loop' KAL sock. I've called mine, 'Raspberry Coulis' socks. Here's how the heel worked up.

The Rowan ''Gayle' is coming along nicely. The back is now complete and I have started the left front. On to the fourth out of twelve balls of yarn. I'm just loving those cables and the soft, soft yarn.

Most weekends, we take a visit to our local farm produce shop. We buy whatever fruit and veg we need for the week and whatever we haven't grown ourselves. It's all locally produced. We like that! Yesterday I just had to bring this little treasure home....

I  really like the colour and simplicity of a pumpkin. I love slicing into it and seeing the myriad of little seeds, nestling in their 'blankety bed'. Today, this beautiful specimen..........

.......turned into......

.... delicious pumpkin and sweetcorn soup. It's a Delia Smith recipe and so, so simple. You sweat two medium sized onions, add chunked pumpkin, sweetcor, some milk, vege Bouillon, salt and pepper. Cook for 20 mins and then whiz it all through a Magimix. Just before serving, toast some sweetcorn in the oven for about 10 mins. Serve with fresh homemade bread. It's one of my 'top 5' Autumn Favourites!

Some of you were asking about the 'Lemon Trickle Cake' recipe from last week. Here it is:

Magimix 175g of butter, flour and caster sugar, 3 eggs, zest of 3 lemons and  a pinch of salt. Pour into a greased and lined large loaf tin (1 litre) and cook for 45 mins at 170 or gas mark 3. While waiting mix 200g of icing sugar with the juice from 3 lemons. When the cake is cooked, take out of the oven, leave in the tin and use a cocktail stick to make holes all over the surface. Slowly pour the lemon sugar mix over the surface and leave it to trickle into all those little holes. ENJOY!

Well, that's about it for this week, except for an update on little Oscar. He had a CAT scan on Monday, which showed no problem with his elbow, thank goodness. The cartilage around the long bone in his shoulder is just taking longer to re-grow than was expected. That could be due to the fact that it is very hard to keep him  quiet and relaxed. He is still on restricted walks and is now having physiotherapy and hydrotherapy, in an attempt to help him regain full and pain free movement in the joint. He is still limping, but not quite so badly as he was, so hopefully he is slowly recovering.

I'll just leave you this week with a recent picture of my little grandaughter, Sophie. Her cute little hat was knitted by by her mum. Yes, she's discovered knitting too! The little cardi was made by MEEE!!!!

She's now nearly five months old and extremely active and smiley. I think she is adorable and can't wait to see her during the half-term holiday that is now just one week away.

Enjoy the week everyone!