YOU'VE GOT TO SMILE...

Aaaaaarrrrgggghhhhh! Who or what is that! It has been one of 'THOSE' weeks. I won't go into detail, I don't have the time. The photo above looks a bit how I felt, except for the smiley mouth. It needs turning upside down!  But suffice it to say that no knitting got done all week and by yesterday I was feeling rather severe withdrawal symptoms. As my addiction is so severe, I usually manage at least a row or two each day. This week, there was no chance. Instead, my time was filled with I.E.P.s, assessment data, action plans etc. etc. I still have a lengthy 'to do' list. In fact I feel rather overwhelmed by it all and that comes from someone who is organised and well-planned. So, yesterday I had to take action......... I CAST ON! Oh my goodness, the relief was enormous. Gone were the cravings and the twitchy fingers, evaporated were the angry, miserable 'I want to be knitting' thoughts and an air of peaceful happiness came over me. It was pure bliss! What did I cast on?

I started a little 'Wee Willie Winkie' hat for Sophie's Christmas stocking. The Debbie Bliss 'baby cashmerino' yarn is from stash (OH YES!) and I have enough of the pink to make a little jumper ot cardi to go with it. I'm using DPNs and carrying the spare colour up as I go. It gives a lovely smooth, unnoticeable colour changeover. Hopefully it will be finished quickly.
 
Well, I know this post is very short and sweet, but it's better than no post at all. I still have 'stuff' to do this evening as well as a lasagne to cook AND SOME KNITTING TO DO!

I'll leave you with a couple of shots from the week gone by.


Looks like something nasty to me. HOWEVER...... there is a clue! Know what it is? My class had NO idea. Time for a hands on investigation. I won't show you the gory details though.

It was Oscar's second birthday on Tuesday and this was his favourite pressie. He has carted it around in his mouth ALL week long and slept with it in his den most nights. So sweet!

Another spoonful of Autumn and possibly the last, as the leaves are all falling now with great speed. This was the view across the school playground as I arrived at school at about 8.05 a.m. on Tuesday morning. Just glorious!

OH, BY THE WAY, I RECEIVED AN E-MAIL AT THE END OF LAST  WEEK..... THE PHOTO AT THE TOP! IT MADE ME SMILE. IT WAS LITTLE SOPHIE'S HALLOWEEN BISCUIT, MADE AT NURSERY. I've carried it in my school diary all week. Every time it catches my, it's made me smile. I know what's really important to me and helps keep things in perspective.
Have a good week.

CREATURE COMFORTS......

Well, it's 4.25p.m. on a rather warm, but gloomy, Sunday afternoon and it's almost...... dare I say it.....DARK! I know I'm indoors looking out, but even so, I'm not liking this shift at all! There aren't enough hours in the day at the best of times nd now it feels like the day is almost over before it's fully begun. I know, it's called AUTUMN. The plus side is the glorious abundance of colour around just now. This is definitely a bumper year for spectacular leaf colouration. We watched the colours change as the week progressed! Have a look for yourself at the wonders that are Nature.......

Whilst at the cottage, we had visits from our son and his wife, with little Sophie and Scott the dog. They stayed over for two nights with us. Our elder daughter and her fiance also paid us a call! All in all we had a very realxing and thoriyghly enjoyable time. I did manage some knitting, although most was done during the five hour road trip there and back.

I finished Aria Delicato before we went away, but only managed to block this weekend. It's a really pretty scarf and one that I know will get plenty of wear.

 

 

The stunning autumnal Yorkshire skies managed to ensure that Snoops was fully occupied with sight-seeing, rather than knitting......

I did manage to finish a pair of socks, that are a Christmas gift for a friend. I rather like the pattern, but have to confess to no longer liking to knit with the Trekking XXL yarn. I've been seduced by the luxurious hand-dyed offerings to be had. However, that does leave a pretty large stash of once loved sock yarn! Never mind, out of sight, out of mind ;-).

I've started one of the October, 'Fall in Full Color' projects. The pattern gives options for a scrf, a hat amd a pair of fingerless mitts. The giant 500yd skein is sufficient for two of the options. I've begun with the scarf and will probably go for the hat as well.

Please excuse the scary orange 'being' who crept in on the act. He's not destined to become a lantern, merely soup. Mr Snoops enjoys soup-making and Snoops enjoys soup slurping! However he got a little carried away in the garden today and so no pumpkin and sweetcorn soup for me tonight!!!!! I've been far too busy knitting and blogging to find time to make soup!

I must show you a selection of other shots from our week up in the Dalby Forest. Hope you don't mind!

Well it's all finished now. Back to school tomorrow, but with lots of lovely memories to keep me going until Christmas. Let me leave you with my favourite captures from our time away.

Oscar with ball held at a rather jaunty angle, just to allow optimum air flow!

Three's company - Oscar, Scott and little Sophie.

I WANT PIE AND I WANT IT NOW!!!!!!!!!

Have a good week everyone.

BATTERIES CHARGING!

 

Hello there! How lovely to be here on a weekday afternoon. I hope you are all enjoying a happy Wednesday. It's rather gloomy and wet here, but I'm not letting that spoil my lovely, relaxing day pottering around at home. We've just got back from enjoying a really lovely few days with our family. It's the perfect way to recharge the batteries and take stock of what is most important to you in life. School felt like a lifetime away!

We left home at around 10a.m on Saturday morning and by the time we hit Sheffield, there was a thin covering on the snow on the ground. Mr Snoops is the oracle on all things weather related and he had expected it. Me, well, I just take it as it comes and had no idea! By the time we reached the Snake Pass, it was pretty much a wipeout. It had stopped snowing and the views were really beautiful; snow-laden trees shrouded in low, frosty-white cloud. The pics are not the best, as they were taken from the car. So much for Spring being on the way!

Knitting went well en-route. A five hour car journey always equates to guilt-free knitting! I managed to finish the second 'Happy Sock' ........... and do plenty of scenary watching at the same time. I really like the simplicity of the blue and red stripes. The yarn has a high bamboo content and is very smooth and soft to work with. It is a rather floppy, so I'm not too sure how they will look after a few washes. We will have to wait and see.

We spent lots of time out of doors, walking Scott and Oscar and quite by accident,  met the Dragon of Longford Park. I have to say, not many people are so fortunate, as he leads a very reclusive life!

It was Mr Snoops birthday on Monday, so we also made sure we paid a visit to one or two our favourite 'eateries' and ale houses, to help us celebrate! The Marble Beer House in Chorlton is just the best place to enjoy real ale. The Manchester Marble Brewery makes cask ale from only organic and vegetarian ingredients. It certainly tastes good and is just a five minute walk away!

I also managed to complete the first of my 'Wildflower Socks'. I really like this pattern. It's simple enough to knit whilst chatting or travelling, but the little wildflower detail adds just enough interest to stave off boredom. It also suits variegated yarns well. Notice, I've cast on the second sock. I have to do this as soon as the first sock is finished, to help me gather the required momentum to get the second sock underway. Otherwise, I could very easily end up having to wear odd socks!

On Monday, after a fabulous pizza at Croma, I managed to drag the female members of our gathering into central Manchester on a yarn mission. Mr Snoops had his own mission to accomplish, as he always likes to pay a trip to 'The Cheese Hamlet' in Didsbury. The expectation prior to the yarn mission had filled me the greatest excitement, as only a visit to a previously unvisited yarn shop can do! Central Manchester is not my favourite shopping exerience and so it was only a two-stop mission. The first, to get the younger Miss Snoops some new running shoes. She has a place in the London Marathon this year and is training hard.  The second, well, to fondle some yarn at the recently opened 'Purl City Yarns'.  We walked a fair way into the Northern Quarter, only to find ........ the shop was closed on a Monday. Damn and blast it! Snoops was NOT a happy bunny! I know, I should have checked. Here is the shop in question....... looking VERY closed! Next time I'll check the opening hours first.

Before the long drive home on Tuesday, we shared lunch together at 'Battery Park' in Chorlton. The juices, smoothies, salads and paninis etc. are fabulous and it has a relaxed and laid back atmosphere. We love it!

So too does little Sophie, who just loves being out and about. She is nearly nine months now and so full of character and fun. She is a real delight. We love her to bits!

She's wearing a hat knitted by her mummy!

So, it's Wednesday already. Where on earth does the time go? I have bits and pieces planned for the next few days and then it's back to school! So far though, I've had a lovely half-term, doing just the simple kind of things that I enjoy most.

BEST OF CHRISTMAS....

Good day to you all! Happy Boxing Day! Just got time to pop in and say 'hello' to you all before we go off to our local alehouse for the traditional Boxing Day quiz. Hope you've all enjoyed the festive season thus far. We've had a whirlwind of a time; dogs, baby, adults, wrapping paper, Father Christmas calling in! All very exciting. In amongst the madness though, there have been some lovely walks and cuddles with Sophie.

The view above was taken yesterday, Christmas Day, as we walked around 'the lake'. As you can see, it is totally frozen over. Well, all except for a small space onto which all the water birds have crammmed. I have never it so, so frozen.

The dogs didn't mind the cold one little bit. Here's Scott posing for the camera, just to show you all how long his tongue is. He insisted!

 Sophie has thoroughly enjoyed her first Christmas, searching out pressies under the tree......

opening her stocking......

 and savouring her first Christmas dinner.

Oscar loved his new 'Wubba'!

I was very spoilt and received some lovely gifts, including a few knitty items! No surprise there... I know!

My great pal, Josiekitten, treated me to a beautiful skein of sock yarn from the 'Natural Dye Studio' (one of my favourites) and a fabulous little project bag, from 'Three Bags Full' . We first spotted these beautiful little bags at 'Knit Nation' last summer. We drooled over Ann Hanson's  selection of them, in different sizes, in which she stored all her own projects. They are beautifully made, in cotton prints and lined in a contrasting fabric.

I also received a lovely sock yarn skein, dyed by Jenny Cook from Hay-on-Wye with a cute little project bag from the Unicorn Organic Co-operative, in Chorlton. The yarn is so pretty!

The younger Miss Snoops treated me to two very lovely books.

I haven't seen the TV programme of 'Kirsty's Homemade Home', but the book is fab! 'knit.sock.love' is Cookie's new book. I have to say, I think it looks better then her first book. I think these will be the first socks I knit from it...

I feel very, very grateful to have such a lovely, loving, thoughtful family and great friend!!!! Thank you! I love you all very dearly.

I hope you felt loved this Christmas and I wish you all a peaceful 2011.

MERRY CHRISTMAS !

Welcome back to my little world! It's been a very, very cold and snowy week in my corner of the world. The snow is still laying pretty thickly as temperatures struggle to reach zero. I have to admit thought, I really love the snowy landscape! I haven't much time to sit with you this afternoon, as any time now all the grown-up boys  and girls arrive.... with little Sophie and Scott!!!

 My goodness, it's going to be a rather full and noisy household. 'Carnage!' as the younger Miss Snoops would say. We'll share lots of fun and laughter and hopefully some good food and wine also. We hope to share some time with Mr and Mrs Josiekitten too!!!!

School finished on a high on Friday. Christmas concerts were done and dusted, cards and calendars made, angels, moving Santas and various other decorations completed, staff Christmas lunch and end of term mulled wine and mince pies shared and enjoyed. The parties are always great fun. This year a magician paid a ten minute visit to each classroom. The children loved it! All ended fairly peacefully, as throughout the week, all but six of the twenty-three children in my class succumbed to a rather nasty stomach bug. On Friday, ten children were away!

Knitting has been almost non-existent this week, what with 'pass the parcels' to wrap, cards to send, pressies to to buy etc. etc. I just made sure that I finished the little pair of socks for Sophie. Just like her daddy's pair!

 That's it now! I MUSTget back to the big aran coat for Miss Snoops.

It's lovely to think little Sophie will be spending her first Christmas with us. I've bought her a little Christmas tree decoration to start off her collection. We still hang the little bits and pieces the children made when they small, on the tree. It's always a bit of a mish mash, but they hold so many memories.

Oscar has enjoyed the pre-Christmas too! Now that he's feeling so much better, it's back to being off a lead in the great outdoors, albeit just in the garden. He has an appointment with the vet on Tuesday and hopefully the news will give him the all clear.

He's looking good, don't you think? We know he's feeeling better, because he's even being rather naughty. No Oscar, you're NOT allowed on the sofa and you know it! No, not even if you lay very still and rest your head on Miss Snoops' foot!

Alright, just for a quick snooze then, seeing as you are looking so cute. Don't tell Mr Snoops though!

... aha! Just heard a car horn hoot in the driveway....... someone's arrived!

I'm soooo excited. Need to go. Just let me wish you a very merry Christmas and  a peaceful 2011.

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!