Done and Dusted..

Is it me, or did Christmas come and go rather quickly this year? A group of my friends and I thought that this year was probably one of the least Christmassy Christmas' ever.

A week before Christmas I had a call from a guy who wanted to give his girlfriend a really special gift! She is mad about Peacocks and he wondered whether it was possible to have the Peacock Feathers Shawl made in time. Once I'd explained that it would take many weeks work, we settled on him giving it to her on Valentine's Day instead.

So, my Christmas knitting project started with a swatch (unheard of)



and by the end of yesterday evening, I had got half way through Chart 3 out of 7, plus 2 edging charts!



The yarn is Cherry Tree Hill Merino Lace in the new colour Misty Moor

I also finished the first of the Monkey Socks in Cherry Tree Hill Potluck Supersock.



Now all I need is plenty of time to get these finished!

Past Lives..

Many moons ago, some of you will know that I used to work for the National 'Elf Service.

Someone forwarded a link to some archive material of me at work. (You will need the volume on for this).

Waiting for Santa...

I thought I'd have a little competition this week.

The best caption to this piccie of my cats will win a small parcel of woolly goodies.

You have until the end of Christmas Day...

Jack Frost..

This was one of my favourite poems that my mum used to read to me as a child and this morning reminded me of it...

Jack Frost
By C.E. Pike

Look out! Look out!
Jack Frost is about!|
He’s after our fingers and toes;
And all through the night,
The gay little sprite
Is working where nobody knows.



He’ll climb each tree,
So nimble is he,
His silvery powder he’ll shake.
To windows he’ll creep
And while we’re asleep
Such wonderful pictures he’ll make.



Across the grass
He’ll merrily pass,
And change all its greenness to white.
Then home he will go
And laugh ho, ho ho!
What fun I have had in the night.

Nicely Chilled.....

This has to be the best hotel - anywhere!



Dave and I go there every year just before Christmas to recharge our very low batteries - and boy did we need it this year! The rooms are just awesome and the food is out of this world.





I even managed to get a bit of knitting done - a new pair of socks as the STRs are consigned to the naughty corner for now.

My Socks Don't Rock!

I finally finished version 4 sock in this yarn last night. I'm so disappointed - my Socks Don't Rock!

I got all excited when I saw how pretty the foot was looking



It didn't last long once I'd started on the leg and could see how badly it was pooling



If I hadn't been on my 4th attempt at using this yarn, I'd have ripped it out!

Judge for yourselves...

Bungle + Christmas Tree = Trouble

Hmmm.....

The evidence speaks for itself..



Father Christmas (pom-pom thing made by youngest daughter a few years ago) has now only got one eye as he had to be rescued from the other side of the lounge last night and moved higher up the tree. I don't rate his chances much for surviving the rest of the Holidays!

How Long???!!!!....

OMG - I can't believe it's three weeks since I last posted! Three weeks?? Life has been manic and aswell as trying to get ready for Christmas (another two weeks time) it has been all work and no play here.

A small amount of knitting has been done and the #*@%*ing Socks That Rock yarn has added yet another insult into the equation. I love the feel of this yarn, don't get me wrong, but having behaved beautifully on the foot, now that I have turned the heel and added a few more stitches - just as the pattern told me - it has turned all nasty and is pooling and is not at all pretty. I will take several deep breaths and reveal all next time (the sock, the sock).

The last couple of weekends have been spent being part of an exciting new venture in Northampton. Hopefully it will become a regular event - Hip Hip Handmade at the prestigious venue of the old Fish Market is where I've hung out in sub zero temperatures for the last two Saturdays. Despite coming home suffering from hypothermia both times, I've thoroughly enjoyed myself.