So close...

.... I knew that I would not be able to manage blogging every day for a month...

The shock at loosing two pounds was too much for me on Wednesday, so I came back from keep fit and more or less when straight to bed...



Thursday I went shopping again - I couldn't find what I needed in Ross so ended up in Monmouth

Has someone branched out into retail ?






And the Friday saw me driving to Nottingham with Ali.

We went to see the location for next year's AGM for the Knitting and Crochet Guild.

It's going to be held at Ruddington.

We found locations, catering and some amusements...








There are some very old knitting machines

There were displays of stockings, including some very short ones that belonged to Queen Victoria.











Saturday was a day of present making - I finished a Tudor Grace scarf (Knitspot pattern).

I cut out lots of bits of tomatoes - all will be explained tomorrow !

And then today I went to Anne's Yardstitch.
As it was so cold we were all in Nutter's Cafe.

There was much eating, drinking, talking and knitting.

Marie had brought her new wheel - I've seen them in magazines and lusted after one, now after trying one - I'm in love...

And look at this tart !

I think she is enjoying moving round the shop :-)

I dont do shopping

But in the last few days I've been to Abergavenny (Saturday), Ross (yesterday) and Leominster (today)

I'm exhausted by it all :-(

Here are some photos of Ross...







I have ended up with a new watch, a jacket (£5 in a charity shop today), several presents..

I did nearly buy a fork handle today for £3, but thought it better to see if I could find a dvd with the correct sketch on first (and I cant, it seems that four candles is not included on best of Two Ronnies...)



And now I'm off to knit the runner (I know I'm repeating myself, but the end is in sight - maybe tonight, maybe tomorrow, but by the weekend....)

Mummy's Little Helper

As promised some photos of knitting - this is a tudor grace from Knitspot.

I started it a few days ago, made with Silkwood sock wool, I'm just about to finish the first 50gs.









And with flash the lace pattern is more visible..

As you can probably tell I did have some help while trying to take the photos..











And this is Dun at his most helpful !!












I've also been working on the table runner...

Peeling Bell panel (with cat)

And the centre star.

I'm just about to start the second peeling bell panel, then I will have one bead, two trees and two chevrons and the bell edging and it will be done... probably about ten hours of knitting - better get on ;-)

Where I was...

I took myself off over the border with Wales - not that far it's only about 20 minutes from home.



I ventured to a market town with an interesting dress shop wall...







And this is where I was - Abergavenny.

I didn't see anyone in a periwig, but there were a lot of cafes, and they all seemed full (very strange, if you ask me - dont the locals have kitchens?)

Maybe tomorrow there might be some knitting photos... better go and get clicking ;-)

Adventures

I took myself off for an adventure today.

I went to so different country, where they speak another language....


The Market Hall made me stop and stare...








There were these chickens, chicks and eggs floating in sky...


And they weren't little either...

This one must have been taller than me (ok I do realise that I'm not the tallest in the world..)

He was huge :-)

And for scale - just to show how big they were...

Can anyone (apart from Nic who will probably know) guess where I was today...

The answer will be revealed tomorrow.

And now I'm off to knit some runner ;-)

Click click

Today I have been mainly clicking - with sticks and not a mouse !

I'm at the half way point in the runner

It's too dark to take photos of white cotton :-(

Fifteen hours so far, I'm hoping the next half will be quicker, at least there will be less beads to slide on the cotton ;-)

Sunsets

Last night on the way to Hereford I had to stop at the bridge to take photos of the sunset.

As I hadn't taken any of the River for a while - here is a 'Wednesday Wye' photo..

Levels are up a little and the reflection an amazing colour..







These next few are similar...













This is the village church - yes it is Italian looking...











And a far away view...













I drove off (probably after getting some very strange looks from the people in the cars that went past - it was rush hour, kids being picked up from school !)

Then I had to stop again on another lane...

The sun just going down in front of me...







And then tonight as I was on the phone I saw this from the conservatory... sun sets dont usually happen in this part of the sky...

Not as bright as yesterday but equally pretty.

I've had a lovely day meeting Gill & Sue at a wicked shop. We did take over the cafe with lace books and samples - there was frogging, discussing, and enabling... and cake eating...

I look forward to seeing the results :-)

Horrible Child

When I was in Cardiff the other week I was a horrible child.

I was enjoying not being a driver and taking photos as we went along.

When told to take a photo of the lorry we passed on the roundabout this is the outcome.. how did I manage to get me in there as well ?






And there were some tunnels...

Anne wasn't really going that fast - honest !!

I will try and answer all the yarn comments in the next few days - the pile of yarn waiting to be neck & wrist warmers was camel & silk dyed by me..

Snow Forest

I've been busy in the last few days - lots of clicking of needles - and for once I'm using straights :-)

This is Hazel's latest pattern - I'm not doing it totally as pattern.

Using thinner cotton and different beads, which you can just about see ..












It took me 45 minutes for the first of these patterns and 30 for the second ... I'm hoping that the second half will fly off the needles...


















And this is the first end with bell edging, and trees.
















This is how long 160 rows are with scissors for scale (they are dressmaking ones)

Only another 525 rows to go...


I'm using 3mm & 3.25 mm








And just to prove there are some Hereford cattle living nearby - these are in the long fleece sheep field by the river - sorry for the spooky look on it's face, it was dusk

Beep....

.....Sorry I cant come to the blog at the moment too busy with xmas knitting...



But here are some Monkey socks that I've finally finished - I started the second one on 20 Sept and completed them a couple of days ago..

I suppose if I hadn't started so many new lace projects they would have been finished ages ago...

Yesterday

I spent a lot of time reading this...


There are 4 shawls and 4 scarves that I'd like to make...

Better get clicking before I go on the cruise with Nancy :-)

And this was the one that I cast on, for a present. The nupps are getting easier - must remember to be loose with my yarn overs otherwise the language isn't good !!

And I might *have* to cast on something else later - Hazel's pattern is out for this

Saturday Sky

I haven't done one of these for ages...

I looked out this afternoon and thought there was an interesting mix of colours in the clouds...

And surprisingly it didn't rain :-)

Someone was not impressed - he would rather sit on the bed that it on its side in the conservatory..

I'm not sure about getting rid of he bed now, it would be cruel and both of the boys like the hammock effect they have created...

And sickly cat who is getting lots better... this week they have both been demanding, running round like idiots not the elderly men they are - think the full moon had a lot to do with it....

(It is a terracotta chicken that is 'pecking' him..)

Down an Alley Way

There is a Small Gallery

The delightful Anne runs it and made a brilliant sign for the door in the cold weather..

In the last few weeks I have been disturbing her a lot !











This is no gallery really put a haven of woolly goodness ...

I cant remember all that is sold but I dont think there is any acrylic to be seen - wool, silk, alpaca, nettle...







For a small space it is crammed full of stock









And there is also a display of under garments - made by a group in Worcester

And can you see who was making herself known on the counter ?









apparently these all started off as bras

and were then decorated...










So if you are down in Hereford, take yourself off to Church Street (it's near the cathedral !)

From High Town go down the alley by the side of M&S..

Then there is another smaller alley down the side of the cheese shop...

But dont go on Monday's as it is Anne's day of rest ;-)

These are my favorite - cups & saucers !!

Thank Goodness

They are finished :-)

I'm very glad - I nearly got asked to make some more last night while I was waiting for keep fit to start...

They are 17 inches long, they are pink, very girly and I hope she will love them !






I'm off to wind these now... colours not totally right (the light is so bad - it's raining again !)

They are going to be some of these
and pairs of these