SUMMER MUSIC AND RIPPLES......

Well it's been busy, busy, busy here at chez Snoops'. No idea what's really kept me busy, except just general day to day jobs that need to be done, a garden that needs to be cared for and work! 

I'm making some progress on my blanket, but savouring every minute of it. This delicious ripple pattern is so soothing and relaxing. It's lovely to be choosing the colour pattern for myself rather than following someone else's plan. 

It's been summer music time in my little corner of life too. Take That took the stage at Carrow Road as part of their Wonderland tour. Th e night was absolutely terrific. I'm no Take That fan, but the sheer spectacle and drama of the evening was fantastic. 

This weekend it was the turn of Alfie Boe and Michael Ball's 'Together Again' gig in Thetford Forest. My pal Helen (Josiekitten) cam along too and we had a great evening. The weather was warm and the air was still, with amazing cloud formations moving across the sky as the sun set. It was all just lovely!

New up this week, is another trip to Thetford Forest to see my favourite band, Elbow! To say I am rather excited is an understatement. To get me in the mood, I watched their full set at Glastonbury, from the comfort of my sofa) on Saturday evening. It was brilliant!!

The weather conditions recently must have been just right, notably for outdoor music concerts, but also for the raspberry canes. Never have I seen such a good crop before. There have been three bowlfuls collected and frozen so far!

 The sweet peas are also blooming nicely. I'm loving these gorgeously bright  little beauties!

I think I have to confess to actually becoming slightly addicted to gardening over the last few weeks, which has eaten into my crafting time quite substantially. It's alright though, because once the flowering season is over, my new found passion will quickly subside, I suspect.

Right, blanket ripples here we come!

Busy beeeee!.........

Here, at long last, is Isaac's little blue merino and silk hoodie. I had no idea a bumble bee was flying across it as I took the shot. How funny! I even captured his shadow! :-)

This is such a good pattern from Debbie Bliss's 'eco- baby' book. It helps not to have to choose buttons, because there are none needed, or to have to pick up stitches to knit the hood band! I hate picking up a large amount of stitches evenly.

It's nicely styled too with the little side vents and simple neck opening. All in all, it's a pretty good knit.

It's been a warm and sunny weekend in our little corner of the UK and Oscar has made the most of it!!!  Long may it continue!

SUNNY WEEKEND..........

Well hello little socks! Long time no see! I really should pay you some attention and get those needles clicking. I really like the stripes, but plain sock knitting in navy blue? I should have know better! It's not the most inspiring choice, but now I am sock number two, I can see the end may soon be in sight. For that reason only, I am marching forward with my task! 

The little hoodie that I had so hoped to show you this week is now complete but awaiting seaming.... another urrrgggghhhhhhh!!! I hate seaming and will need to do a bit at a time I think. With that plan in mind, the shoulder seams are now joined and the hood is attached and shames, so just the side seams and sleeves to go. 

To be honest, I've not had much time for knitting this weekend as the younger Miss Snoops has been home and we have made the most of the warmer weather and sunshine to enjoy the outdoors with Oscar.

 These little cuties certainly aren't very old but were enjoying the sunshine with Mum!

Oscar was enjoying the sun and water too, as always.

Love this boy to bits!

A little garden re-designing is taking place chez Snoops' too! We made a little trip to the local garden centre yesterday to make a start on the planting choices. Can't wait to see them in situ!

LET'S GET A MOVE ON..........

I seem to be an old slo-mo at present. This little hoodie for Isaac has been on the needles for a little too long for my liking. It's such a pretty blue and the pattern from the Debbie Bliss 'eco baby' book is fab. It's just that it's not very exciting to knit! To be fair, I love a bit of easy stocking stitch sin the evenings after a busy day in the classroom, but if I'm honest........ I just want to sock knitting.

However, Isaac is a growing boy (he was 1 year old on Friday) and these small people knits don't fit for very long! So it's time to fire up those needles. It's definitely coming along now, as the hood is almost done and then I'll just have the sleeves to make before stitching up. I've made this little one several times before and it looks lovely once it's completed. The added bonus is that there are no stitch pick-ups to make edgings or borders. The open neck and hood borders are integrated into the main knit. Perfect! I HATE picking up stitches!

These little beauties have also been waiting around for rather longer than I would have liked. However, my mission is to clear anything already started, before allowing  myself a new cast-on. Two new blanket packs are lying ready and waiting too and once I allow myself blanket hoodie time the poor old WIPs won't get a look in! I love seeing them sitting in the yarn bowl patiently awaiting their turn to be chosen. I love them all dearly! ;-)

Oscar met up with his 7 month old red setter pal, Alfie yesterday. They had a lovely time sniffing, chasing and swimming (well Oscar swam) around our favourite lake and country walk.

Then it was back to some plant potting in the garden. It's such a pleasure to be outside at this time of year in the garden. Peaceful and relaxing!

AN OUT AND ABOUT KIND OF WEEKEND........

This is what's in my knitting bag this week.... not very exciting! It's a dark navy hoodie for Evie; in progress, but a fair way to go yet. It's not worth boring you with the dark navy stocking stitch, so I'll move on.

We are not passionate gardeners, but I just love seeing these blooms at this time of year. It's the best time as far as I'm concerned. I love how the flowers intermingle with a wild and unruly look. So pretty!

Here in our fine city, we have an annual two week music and arts festival that has grown over the years and features a wide range of acts to suit all tastes. This being the middle weekend, the Festival Tea Party takes place in our city centre park. All sorts of exciting free performances including dance, live music, circus, a fire-breathing dragon made out of scrap metal and sound installations. Just my cup of tea! Here's a quick look at what we experienced, some beautiful, some breathtaking, some thought provoking and some just weird!

The sun shone, the 'street food' sellers were out in force and we had a good time!

We also managed a trip to the lake this morning, so Oscar got his serving of fun too!

The goslings grow so quickly!

 It's half-term at the end of this week and we are off 'up North' for the week to see little ones! :-)

SORRY I MISSED YOU.........

I'm so sorry I missed you last week, but we had an unexpected arrival! Little Isaac arrived rather quickly on Thursday, 5th May at 7.12p.m., a couple of weeks before we were expecting, so Mr Snoops and I made a very special trip up North. What little beauty he is, don't you think? He's still looking a little yellow in this photo, but after light treatment the jaundice is slowly disappearing.

We had the pleasure of looking after darling Evie for a couple of days: she is an absolute delight! It also meant that we were able to spend time with our other two grandchildren, Sophie and Jess, as well. A very special time was had! 

I had time to make another little sweater and a couple of hats. This one matches the grey and the green sweaters and the other has grey and blue stripes to match the grey sweater and blue cardigan featured a couple of posts ago. I don't have a photo of the blue and grey hat, as I completed it on our Thursday evening journey northwards, just after taking a phone call in the car to say that he arrived. Needless to say, a hat photo was no longer high priority! :-)

I LOVE these cute little buttons. They work just perfectly!

Since we've been home, I've made Evie a little cardi for her 'baby' doll. This is a great pattern (Little Kina), that I've used before, knit from the top down all in one piece. It's quick and easy and uses up oddments of yarn! ;-)

We may only have been away for six days, but at this time year so much happens during that time in the garden. The honeysuckle smells divine!

Fresh produce and 'first of the season's' goodies were on offer at the Farmer's Market yesterday in the city centre. We usually stool down through the park for a coffee and to buy some of this stalls wonderful produce. Just look at those lush strawberries; they tasted just as good as they look, as did the yummy asparagus; tossed in olive oil, salt and pepper and roasted for 10 mins in a hot oven. Delicious!

I just wanted to show you the new 'life and times' of Mr Snoops' feet! Two years ago came the first wearing of the knitted socks and now we seem to be going for 'how bright can you get'! These are his new socks for days when knitted socks just won't do :-(   He wanted brown! I said 'Why not stripes?' So, he went for stripes. Snazzy, hey?

Here's a pic of our beautiful boy, Oscar, taken this afternoon in the garden. He had been racing around with his pheasant, but stopped dead when he saw me with the camera, as if to say, ' You taking a shot of me Mum? Okay, I'll play ball!' Love my boy!

SPRING KNITS......

Hooray! Knit, knit, knit.... some knitting has been undertaken! I just love this pattern and have made it several times now. It's simple and just 'works' on all levels. It's Erika Knight's 'sweater' from her book 'Natural Nursery Knits'. I've used some Rowan wool cotton DK.  I just love the simple roll neck, bottom and cuffs detail and the sweet little two-button opening.

I've had these little wooden buttons for ages. They suit perfectly!

 It's been a beautiful day here in our little eastern corner of England and after a morning at the lake, walking Oscar, I settled down for an afternoon of knitting in the garden.

Here's an easy baby cardigan on it's way for little Evie. It's made all in one, with the front, neck and sleeve borders worked at the end. Again, I've made this several times and it works; probably because I like the simplicity of the design, with it's cute little three-quarter sleeves.

It's another Erika Knight pattern from the book shown above. I've used Rowan wool cotton once more, as it knits up beautifully and is suitable for baby garments. The fabric works up very quickly, providing a lovely thickness. No doubt this easy garter stitch cardi will be complete within the week. A little bit of mindless garter stitch is great for a school day evening!

The garden always looks so fresh and new at this time of the year and there is always a surprise!

Wisteria just has to be one of my all time favourites.

Wishing you a wonderful 'end of April' week!