SPOT THE CULPRIT!

Well hello sunshine!  How lovely to see you this weekend. We had almost forgotten what you looked like! It has been a wet, windy and none too warm week here in my little corner of the world. In fact the heat had to be turned on at school one morning earlier in the week, because it was so chilly. Not quite what one expects in June!

 I have to confess to a distinct lack of wooly goodness to show you today and the blame has to be laid firmly on the smooth, grey shoulders of the culprit above. Do you see him, trying to hide away there! Down the years, I have always been a fanatical reader. I studied English for my degree and just love a well-written, 'something to get your teeth into' story. Reading has alwyas been a big part of my free-time..............well it was, until knitting came bursting back onto the scene. There just haven't been enough free hours in the day to manage to read, knit, Ravelry-play and do everything else that needs to be done to keep a home up and running. Then this little chap arrived on the scene and somehow he has managed to weedle his way into my heart and my bag. His slimline form means that he doesn't take up too much room and he can always be there for me. So, reading is now very much back on the menu. Welcome little Kindle. I love you muchly!

Here is the booky reason for my lack of knitterly offerings this afternoon.....

Murakami is one of my favourite authors. I read one of his earlier books, 'The Wind-up Bird Chronicle' sevearl years ago and was hooked. '1Q84' is his latest work and  is totally and utterly brilliant! So good, that it has kept me away from my needles!!! Having finished Book1 and 2, I immediately downloaded Book 3, which was published sometime after. I'm almost halfway through, but did manage to leave him in his snuggly bed today, so that I could make at least a little wooly progress.

My 'Surf Blue Waffle Creams' are coming along. I  have managed to turn the heel on the first sock, so hopefully at least one of the air will be off the needles by the end of the coming week. As with all of Anne Hanson's patterns, the instructions are just so clear, concise and accurate. I'm loving the yarn, by the way! It's unbelievably soft.

I've also reaccquainted myself with the gorgeous 'Almost Ovals' scarf, that was a Christmas gift from my pal Josiekitten. I began knitting this one back in the dark, cold days of winter and despite creaming my hands, they were still fluffing the yarn up. But now, hey presto! Success! This is another beautiful Anne Hanson pattern and gorgeous Sweet Georgia cashsilk lace. The 24 row pattern repeat is straight forward and although I can't memorise it, it is easy to predict and so easy to know if you have made a mistake, before getting too far along the row. This is my main project now, until it's done. I just LOVE prettty turquoise blues!!!

I've also spent some fun time this week getting a swap parcel ready to send across the water to the U.S.A. I am participating in the June BNKC swap and have been searching out some seriously lovely yarny goodness to swap with Katharine. She has two beautiful labradors and we agreed to include a doggy swap treat as well. To cut a long story short, I had left my shopping bag out of sight and smell (or so I thought) of dear Oscar boy. Withing half an hour of being home, he had not once, not twice, but three times rummaged in by bag (moved to a new spot each time, may I add) and found the pull toy bought for Rex and Jackson!!!!!!! No it's NOT for you Oscar!

So, as you can see, there really wasn't much needle clicking going on this weeek, was there! On our walk with Oscar on Friday evening, we stopped to check on the cygnets that I showed you a couple of weeks ago. They have grown quite a lot in two weeks and I am verybpleased to report that all six are still looking strong and healthy.

Ahhhhhhhhh! Have a great week everyone. I may or may not see you next weekend, as I am off up to see litttle Sophie for the weekend, along with my younger daughter, who is now free from exams and is coming along with me. A girls weekend!!

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.

BETTER LATE THAN NEVER ..........

Hello there! It's so good to see you again. Look! At long last my December 'End of the Year' socks are finished and I can finally show you the complete montage of socks and yarns from the 2009 Sock Challenge that josiekitten and I shared. I think it's fair to say that she won 'fair and square', but never mind, I've finally got there.... only 9 days late! What do you think? Do you like them? They all get worn, but some more often than others. Those who are lucky enough to leave the drawer most often are April and August, closely followed by September. They are all in month order by the way; travelling across each row in turn from left to right. These were not the only socks completed either, and I have to admit to having a rather fat and bulging sock drawer, so 2010 is not going to see quite so many pairs on the needles. I do so LOVE knitting socks though, and buying scrummy hand-dyed sock yarn, so I guess there'll still be a few pairs to show you.

Here's a close up of the December pair.



The yarn is an Araucania and although the colours are lovely, the last pair I made from the yarn have felted quite badly, even though they have washed according to instuctions. So we'll have to wait and see.

I've also finished my Cora scarf. I love the yarn colours and the pattern is very easy. You can download it for free here on the Rowan site.



So, the WIPs are decreasing in number. Ive frogged the beret, so that doesn't count any longer. The pink 'Fetchings' hadn't actually been started, so I'm discounting those too. The 'special teddy', although ready to go, isn't on the needles yet, so that's ones OK too. That just leaves my 'socks on the go' 'London Friendship' socks and the other mitten. Getting closer! So, it's onwards this week with the socks methinks. There you go, I'm back on the socks already! :)

Last week, I promised to show you one or two of my ideas for projects this year. Well, the 'Sock Yarn Blankie' is going to rank highly on my list of 'must do's. There's also going to be a lot of baby knitting for my little granddaughter, who will be born in May. I already have the yarn to make her a colourful Attic 24 'Ripple Blanket' and matching buttoned up cushion for her nursery.



I wanted something bright and easily washable. Debbie Bliss 'cotton DK' fitted the bill perfectly! Lots of bright colours in lovely soft cotton. This is a crochet project. I've not done much in the way of crochet for many years, but really enjoyed making the Lucy at Attic 24 inspired 'Summer Ice-cream Sorbet' bags last summer. So this could become the 'year of the blanket and the art of crochet'.

But wait there's more. I bought some lovely yarn in the John Lewis sale.....lovely, lovely yarn and lovely, lovely half price! Just had to have it.

The half price 'baby casmerino' is to knit a little hooded, cabled coat from a Debbie Bliss baby book and the gorgeous 'baby alpaca' for a beautifully simple baby cardi from the fab book 'Natural Nursery Knits' by Erika Knight'. I always seem to like her patterns.

After failing to find a suitable Ravelry pattern for the Manos del Uruguay 'silk blend', that Mr S
gave to me as a Christmas gift, I decided to go for a Manos one. Whist in the yarn store Miss S2 spotted a ready-made hat that she rather liked. She tried it on and it certainly did look good on her, so kind old mum treated her....... another project to knit, but hooray NOT for me! The younger Snoopydogs are still rather wary of hand-knitted items. Hats and scarves are acceptable and........ SOCKS! I've also made a Central Park Hoodie for Miss SD1

That's enough to keep me going for the first couple of months of the year, I'm sure! There'll be those extra 'must cast on this minute' projects too, so looks like I might be quite busy!

It's been fabulous to have time to play over the extra long weekend that I have been fortunate enough to enjoy, with two 'snow days' last Thursday and Friday. I've spent time playing about on Flickr and discovering fun new ways to display my photos. If you pop back later in the week, you'll be in for a treat with a blaze of gorgeous buttony colour. Drop in for a picture show!

Have a good week everybody!

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 1. 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.

PRESSIES, TENNIS BALLS, STRAWBERRIES............MUST BE MY BIRTHDAY!

Hello there! I've had a really lovely day today. First reason being that it is my birthday, second reason being the men's Wimbledon tennis final went to five fabulous sets and was surely one of the best men's finals ever. Yes, it would have been even better if Andy Murray had been there; he did us proud though and I'm sure the trophy will be his in the not too distant future. All credit to Federer, who now enters the record books with his fifteenth grand slam title. Roddick put up a good fight and 'remained defiant behind his rocket serve'. He was so gracious in defeat and I hope his turn will come. Thirdly.......strawberries! My memories of childhood birthdays are always of Wimbledon and strawberries. Then, strawberries were not available all year round and so we made the most of the short, intense feasting season. As much as I love their delicious, sweet flavour I refuse to buy until they are in season and even better until they are produced within a 20 mile radius of our home. They taste so good!

I have been very spoilt and received some lovely presents. I thought I would show you the knitterly gifts that my good friend josiekitten and my youngest daughter bought for me.







What fabulous knitterly gifts they are too!!! Don't you agree? Firstly, my youngest daughter bought me a copy of Cookie's book 'Sock Innovation' and a skein of Laughing Yaffle sock yarn. The colours are intensely gorgeous. And if that wasn't sufficient to feed my addiction for at least a week, my great pal josiekitten supplied the rest................... surely I should feel sated for at least the whole of the summer hols (only two weeks away BIG SMILE). There was a skein of Laughing Yaffle in the suptuous colourway 'merry go round', a skein of Natural Dye Studio merino and bamboo sock yarn in the colourway 'sweet pea' and some mini skeins of Natural Dye Studio sock yarn, ready for my sock blanket project that I hope to start as soon as term ends and the summer hols begin. Next up, was the excellent book 'Knitting Socks with Handpainted Yarns' that I had been coveting for a while. There are some great patterns inside and really good advice on how to avoid pooling etc. and how to select the best pattern to show off the yarn! A pack of 'Knit Pro' wooden sock needles will ensure my knitting quality is the best it can be!!!! I told Mr Snoopydog that I would like some Knit Pro sock needles and his reply went something like..... ' Haven't you got some needles in that tin on the windowsill?' I tried to explain that there are needles....... and there are NEEDLES! Needless to say there was a distinct manly lack of understanding. Thank goodness for josiekitten! I also received some Clover circular stitch markers ........ just what I needed, as I only have two small and two large. Hmm!

Oh, and better late than never, here are my June socks. I'm sorry to disappoint by using the Circles pattern again, but I cast on at least three other patterns with this yarn and it pooled horribly. I had also left myself very little time to complete a pair of socks in June, as I fed my mojo for baby knitting.


Hope you like them!

Finally, here's a sneaky preview of July's offering.


The pattern is Daydreamer by Vikki Harding. The yarn is my own 'Kool-Aid' hand-dyed (my first attempt!). The yarn is quite fluffy and loosely spun, but I am pleased with how it is knitting up and how the colours are patterning. Hopefully, I will be able to show you more later this week, along with some pics showing how the allotment and the summer pots are coming along.......... and news of Trevor the toad!

At the end of an exciting high summer day, I guess it's about time to regroup my thoughts for school tomorrow and maybe think about bed. Goodnight!

KIND MR SANTA CLAUS....

Christmas seems to have been and gone very quickly. Miss Snoopydog 1 arrived home from Manchester, where she is about to begin her teaching career and Miss Snoopydog 2 arrived home from Bratislava, where she is working with UNDP (United Nations Development Programme). I hadn't seen her since late September, so the drive to the airport to collect her was sweet! We also have Scott, our son's dog, with us for Christmas, whilst his master and mistress enjoy the Australian summer.

Mr Claus did call and was very generous. Besides a new lens for my camera, he left a very unexpected squishy parcel (thanks to Mr Snoopydog). I felt very spoilt , as I also received three new knitting books from family and friends, and a dyeing kit from my good pal josiekitten.

Mr Snoopydog's gift included two lots of sock yarn; one Noro and the second an Araucania Ranco. Then there were eight skeins of delicious Colinette Cadenza, to knit a sweater. I felt quite touched that he had taken himself up to our LYS and made his selections completely by himself. Aaahhhhh! He must approve of my woolly adiction after all LOL.

My dyeing kit is fab and I can't wait to experiment with it. Just look at all the scrummy colours!

As if this wasn't enough, I ventured down to the sales with my daughters. Mayhem reigned, but I returned home with TWO purchases.... woolly ones! The John Lewis sale had just begun and I managed to buy ome lovely Rowan 'tapestry'. There have been lots of complaints about this yarn on Ravelry (knots in the yarn etc), but I have loved the beautiful colourways for ages. The yarn was all half price.

I bought nine skeins of the brown tones and six of the bluey/purple. There are two projects I have in mind in the Rowan 'tapestry collection' booklet. HAPPY KNITTING!