Sunday 5 June 2011

HAPPY DAYS........


Good evening! Hope everybody is happy, happy, happy! I can't believe it's Sunday evening and time to go back to school tomorrow, after the haf-term break. I've had  a lovely relaxing week, with family visiting last weekend, a couple of evenings out with friends, the usual catch up on haircut and dentist and then ....... chillout! Time to catch my breath and get down to some serious knitting. What's new! I hear you cry. Well, nothing, I would agree, but the previous few weeks had left me feeling as though I was whirling around, on a fast moving fairground ride, that didn't ever stop. So, I've taken a deep breath, relaxed, picked away at my reports bit by bit (finished them this afternoon!) and all in all had a thoroughly pleasant week doing not very much. Just how I like it!

The photo above was taken on Tuesday evening as Mr Snoops and I walked Oscar around the lake at our local water park. The sunsets are always stunning over the water, but this one was particularly so. Another seven or eight minutes and the sun and the colours had more or less disappeared. I'm always too shattered on school evenings to go with him, but sights like this remind me that I should sometimes make a little more effort.


Luckily, the sun has shone on us most of the week here near the east coast and so much knitting has been done al fesco. As you can see, I've finished the little kaftan hoodie for Sophie that I began a while ago. This Debbie Bliss eco baby pattern was a very easy knit, albeit lots of pretty boring stocking stitch. It's made from organic pur cotton and will perfect to pull on on chillier late summer evenings.


I love the little side slit openings and the fact that it needed no buttons or fastenings of any kind. The book is one of three I've collected to send up to Sophie from the 'book fairy' in the next week or two.

I was determined to complete one of my WIPs during the week, and once that was achieved, I then turned my needles to what I was really planning on getting going on, Anne Hanson's 'Boxleaf Triangle'. I'm using the gorgeous yarn from my Knitspot 'Autumn in Full Colour' group swap partner Cathy. The yarn is absolutely gorgeous and knits beautifully, with virtually no pilling, but a lovely sheen. It'a a mixture -65% wool, 20% mohair, 10% nylon and 5% silk. It seems to be a perfect combination for shawl knitting. Here it is so far.

The pattern is pretty to memorise once you get going and as you can see, I have put in a lifeline every ten rows or so, just in case I make a major unrectifiable error! I don't leve every lifeline in, I tend to leave two at a time and remove to reuse the bottom one each time, checking for any unnoticed errors first, of course! I'm making the large size, as there is 250g of yarn.............yummy, yummy!


Just to show willing, I did make six jars of marmalade too! Made whilst the sun had gone in!


Washed and ate some strawberries too!


Aaahhhh! Just the perfect way to spend a relaxed half-term at home. So, am I ready for school tomorrow? What do you think? See you next week. Have fun!

14 comments:

josiekitten said...

I'm very impressed that you've managed to get your reports done! I'm going to get stuck into mine this week (probably!) The shawl is looking great - the colours in the yarn are so subtle! Have a good week!

Sarah said...

Glad you have had a good week Ros. It has whizzed by. The first part was fun but the last three days of the week, and today I have been doing learning journeys. Nearly done now though thank goodness!
Never mind, soon be the summer! Love the little hoodie and am jealous of the marmalade-I love homemade marmalade.

Kathy said...

I've got my reports to finish off too! You have been very disciplined to get yours done when you could have been knitting!
I finished my last jar of last year's marmalade today ... so I need to get busy too!
I love your local walk .... I try to get out every evening with my husband and Inca. No matter how tired I am I always feel better as soon as I'm out there!
Have a good week .... we've got another week off.
Hip, hip,hooray!!!
xxx

Helsie said...

Sounds like you have had a good break but I don't like the sound of having to do reports on your holidays. It seems to be what all teachers in the UK do but sounds quite unfair to me. Still I like the way you organise your year with holidays every 5 weeks. Sometimes down here in Queensland we have terms that go for 12 weeks without a break- in the heat !!!
Cheers
Helen

Lynne said...

Oohh! The wee hoodie is gorgeous, and the shawl looks beautiful.

Susan McShannon-Monteith said...

Glad you enjoyed your week off Ros.
The marmalade looks yummy.
Love the beautiful blue hue of the hoodie.
Have a great week!
Susan x

Molly the Airedale said...

Our mom loves orange marmelade!
The shawl is coming along beautifully!

Love ya lots
Maggie and Mitch

Jennyff said...

Hope it's not too bad being back at school after all that lovely time for yourself. Shawl looks brilliant, I can just imagine how soft and cosy it feels.

Anna said...

I love the gorgeous little jumper...what a cute gift. Sophie will look fantastic in it, I'm sure!

Anonymous said...

Going back to school is such a bummer! Still, only 7 weeks 'till the next holiday ;) I love the shawl pattern - what a pretty colour, can't wait to see it finished.

Tracy said...

Hi, Ros! This is all so delicious... wool,knitting, marmalade,fruit...mmm... The hoodie is very sweet--love that bright, happy blue. And you've made such fast progress with that shawl--wow! Great to catch up with you after getting back from some travels. Happy Days :o) ((HUGS))

Teje Karjalainen said...

Hi Ros! How lovely that your week was relaxing and joyful!
Sophie's pullover is really beautiful like your new knitting, too!
I'm wondering when you start summer holidays if you had now half-term brake? In Finland schools have closed at the end of the May and here in Greece about 20.6.
Have a lovely time!
xxx Teje

Heldasland said...

wow, everything looks incredible.Marmalade you clever lady

melissa said...

this post is so amazing it's hard to know where to begin... love that hoodie for sophie! wonderful progress on your lace, but oh! i am a sucker for back lit jars of canned goodness.
love love love the orange marmalade. yum!!