'AUTUMN LONGSHADOWS'

What a wet and rainy afternoon it's turned out to be for the very last afternoon of the school summer holidays. Back to school tomorrow! Sob, sob, sob! I've had a brilliant holiday and really don't want it to end. But end it must, so that I can earn the pennies to buy the scrummies! Amidst days out, days in the garden, our children coming to stay, time away, visits to the elder Miss Snoops for wedding talk, dress finding and buying, a visit to the beautiful lakeside wedding venue they have chosen and catching up with friends...... amidst it all, has been the luxurious, pleasure of hour upon hour to knit! I've even dabbled a little with my new spinning wheel. But September was always going to come around and come around it has, way too soon.

It certainly does feel like Autumn too, as the evenings are closing in and the shadows grow ever longer. The evening sunset and shadows shot above, was taken on Tuesday evening at about 8pm, as we walked Oscar around the lake close to our home. Our beach times seem ages ago now.

I've made the most of my knitting time this week, to get started on the 'Autumn Longshadows' pattern, that is the first project in Anne Hanson's 'Fall in Full Color Club' . I showed you the yarn a couple of weeks ago. It is the scrummiest mix of merino, cashmere and bomyx silk. It feels so incredibly soft as you knit, that you can barely feel it. Gorgeous!

The pattern is very easy to follow and completely addictive! Hence, I have only one more repeat out of eleven to complete on the first half. The scarf is made in two symmetrical halves and then grafted. I am loving knitting with Addi Turbos. They have become my needle of choice for most projects. They are so smooth to use.

Have you noticed the cute little stitch marker? I bought a set of ten at 'Knit Nation'. They are perfect for needles up to size 4mm and can be purchased here.

I'm loving the beautifully subtle shades of this yarn and how they play and dance with the pattern. It's so pretty! Take a look....

I hope to have finished and blocked by the time I blog next time, as the next pattern and yarn are due to be released on September 15th. I think that may be a little ambitious, as knitting time this week will be sparse!!!

We've made the most of the last few summer days and have been out and about.

The picture right above ^ is of Walberswick, in Suffolk. It's a favourite haunt of ours and brings back many happy memories of fun times when our children were small. On a warm sunny day, we would pack up a picnic and find the 'big' bucket and the ball of string. The children would pop across to the local butcher for some free bacon scraps and then we'd jump in the car and be off ....... after settling the dispute between the three of them as to who would be sitting in the middle! They would happily while away the day sitting on the little bridge that you can see in the distance, holding on tightly to their piece of string, that had been carefully knotted around a small chunk of bacon. The outcome of all this......... a bucketload of crabs!!!!! Of course, they would all released, unharmed back into their watery home, amidst squeals of excitement and amazement as the full to the brim bucket was carefully tipped over onto its side on the muddy bank and the little creatures made their sideways escape, scurring quickly back to safety. Such a happy childhood activity!

In fact, the younger Miss Snoops was with us, and at the now grown up age of twenty-six, she was still keen to jump out of the car to snap some shots of one of her favourite childhood memory spots. Priceless!

We've come to the conclusion that Oscar will be keen to see the back of us all next week, so that he can have some peace and quiet and sleep. Although Mr Snoops doesn't get teachery holidays, he still tries to take as much time off as possible during the summer when I am at home. Of course, the younger Miss Snoops has been around too, as she continues her studies. All in all, he's one tired puppy dog!

Poor little boy! Just in case you're wondering, he's sleeping on his favourite 'carry around' toy.... 'reindeer'! Yes, I know, just don't ask.

See you next week. Have a good one!

GRANDMA IN WAITING......

Hello there! I hope you have been enjoying a fabulously sunny weekend wherever you live. It's been an absolutely glorious one here in Norfolk. I've spent my time planting out pots of summer flowers, sitting in the garden with my crocheting and anxiously awaiting news of the 'big arrival'. She is on her way as I type, but I suspect she won't make an appearance until overnight. I can't wait to say 'hello' to her! 

As you can see, Oscar has made the most of his weekend too! He spent a very long time hauling this branch out of the undergrowth, 'checking'  that he was allowed, but I suspect he would have continued anyway! It's kept him amused for most of the last three days. I just had to show you!

Last week was another busy week, with reports progressing slowly, so knitting or crocheting happened for half an hour or so quite late each evening. I have made a couple more squares for the 'Granny in the Middle' blanket and also started this cushion cover. 

The pattern is from Erika Knight's book 'Simple Crochet'.

It's a really lovely book, full of easy to make, stylish and useful items. They are all made using Rowan yarns. This particular cushion cover is made using 'Cotton Glace'.

It fits a 14" x 14" cushion pad. I chose the colours with our sitting room in mind.  The sofas are dark blue and the curtains look like this.....

...... I think I like it, but am not completely sure yet!

The garden and allotment are moving on! We have had several delicious rhubarb crumbles and are already picking salad leaves, radishes and rocket on an almost daily basis. The Wisteria is in full bloom too! It never ceases to amaze me, how such beauty can grow so quickly from those dead-looking twisted branches.

Just look at that beautiful sky too!

The Honeysuckle is also just coming into bloom as is another one of my favourites, the 'Granny Bonnets' or Aquilegias, to give them their proper name.

We don't pay very much attention to our garden, other than to keep the grass cut and the trees in order, so it is always great to see Mother Nature recreating year after year. All on our own doorstep too!

Well that's all my news this week. I had so hoped to be able to share some baby news with you, but at least I know for certain that she will have arrived by the time I post next weekend. If I have time, I may even manage to show you during the week. I've still got seven reports to write, so we'll see. Hope you have a great week!