2014

A Happy and Healthy New Year to everyone around the world.Hope it is a great crafting year for you all.I need a new project.Must get my thinking cap on.Perhaps some charity knitting to use up my stash.Any suggestions welcome.

It's our 47th wedding anniversary today!!!

 It is our 47th wedding anniversary today.Where has the time gone?It a tradition that if the weather is OK we drive through Snowdonia .It is less than an hour from home and today we woke to blue skies albeit frosty.
Imagine living here with this view in your back garden.There was snow on the mountains,not a lot, but enough to give us a wintry view.

 This is near Cwm Idwal.You can see the lake below the mountain.Really dramatic scenery.

 After we had driven through the mountains we came down to the coast and went on to the Isle of Anglesey for lunch in Beaumaris.This is Beaumaris Castle.We didn't go in today.Far too cold.

The above is the view across the Menai Straits to the mainland.We were back home by 4pm and go out to a local hostelry for a meal tonight.

To go back to the wedding anniversary,I can't believe we have been married for 47 years.We have produced two children who are married and have five grandchildren.We started as two and now we are 11.We are just as active and busy as we have been for years.I suppose it is just a number but also a rather amazing achievement.Long may it last.

What a brilliant Christmas..

 Our two gorgeous granddaughters having "pretend" Bucks Fizz just before going out for Xmas dinner.We went over to Sarah's on Christmas Eve and so could join in all the excitement of  putting out sacks,carrots for the reindeer,mince pie and wine for Santa etc.Magical!On Christmas Day we didn't have too early a start.7.45am.Pretty good.There was great excitement opening presents.We then went out to the local pub for Xmas dinner which was great.Lovely atmosphere,superb food and no washing up.Back home to open more presents and play some games.In the three days we were there we only watched TV for an hour.The girls played really well together ,totally sharing all their presents.It was lovely and we thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it .

Mike,Sarah,Emily and Ruby in the pub just before lunch.

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas to everyone.I havn't blogged for weeks but thought I would show you my first attempt at needle felting.Not very good but it does bear a faint resemblance to FC.
We have various problems in the family at the moment with job losses and wage cuts and I do tend to be a worrier.Let's hope the New Year brings us good news.We have had our two granddaughters staying in this weekend which was great fun.The excitement surrounding Strictly was amazing.We shall join them on Xmas Eve until Boxing Day so even more excitement .
Have a great Xmas and a Happy New Year.

Tosca from NY and Habit of Art from NT.

This is what we saw last night.Tosca beamed from New York,live,to our local Film Theatre(part of Theatr Clwyd).It was amazing.I have only ever been to one opera before and that was twenty years ago.Friends asked us to go with them last night and I have to admit that neither C or I was keen.You really felt you were there and part of it.In December they are doing Falstaff, again from the Metropolitan Opera in NY.More are being done in the New Year.As well they are beaming in Corialanus from the RSC plus other Shakespeare plays.I f you have never been to anything like this I urge you to give it a go.It will be on at a film theatre near you I am sure.

Last Thursday saw us at the Film Theatre to see Habit of Art by Alan Bennet.This was a beamed in live production of this from a couple of years ago.Again ,excellent.

Next Wednesday sees us at the theatre again to see Mansfield Park.This is in the main theatre and is a visiting company.Theatre Royal from Bury St EdmundsA really cultural week for us.We are so lucky that in our small market town of 10,000 people we have this amazing theatre,just a five minute drive from our house and with free parking!!.

Hexagon blanket.

 Having completed the blankets(well almost!) for my two grandsons I have started one for my granddaughter,Ella,who is 14.She has chosen the colours from the Stylecraft Special DK range.The photo doesn't really show the colours off too well.They are turquoise,purple,mauve,teal,lilac etc.I can do a hexagon in 15 minutes and I can get 14 out of a 100g ball.They measure 5in or 12cm across so I can work out how many I need.

 Should I arrange them in rows

                                         or in flower shapes

                                          or randomly?

                                   Which do you think looks best?

One finished fox and some WIPs!

 Meet Fenella Fox.Sometime ago my daughter asked me to knit two rabbits,one boy ,one girl (from Little Cotton Rabbits) for a colleague who is expecting twins,one girl and one boy.I have shown you photos of the rabbits before.However this friend has also a 5 yr old and I didn't want her to feel left out so I made her Fenella.I hope she likes her.They are very fiddly to make but worth the effort!

 This is blanket number two.One for each of my grandsons.They are both finished apart from the edging(boo-I hate doing edging).These are something mindless to do while watching TV.

 This is another almost finished project-socks for C.This is the second one so almost there.Again another thing to do while telly watching.

Now these next two projects require a little more concentration.

 This is a scarf I am knitting for my sister in law for Xmas.The yarn is Posh Yarn Eva 50% silk,50 % merino lace weight.The pattern is Leaf Lace by Cayli Harris.Free on ravelry.The pattern isn't very clear here but it  looks good.

 Another lace project.This laceweight cashmere(bought at Yarndale for £10-bargain).This is going to be Evelyn Clark's Swallowtail shawl.This should be done on a circular needle but I prefer straight until it gets too big.

Lastly, my first attempt at felting.A poppy brooch.
Do you have lots of projects on the go or just do one at a time?

Anyone else having trouble with Blogger

Every time I want to sign in ,it says it doesn't recognise my password.So,I change my password and the same thing happens again!I can't be changing my password every time I log in.HELP ,please.

Cambridge then France

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 Last weekend we went down to Cambridge to see the family.Cambridge is such a beautiful city with so many wonderful and historic buildingsAbove is Kings College.

 This is Gonville and Caius College.

 I think this is Trinity or St Johns ,not quite sure.

 Interesting little side streets.When we go it is to see the family and we never really get to see the sights so these photos were a bit rushed in a quick dash into town.

This is Ella,on the right,our 14 year old granddaughter who is into rowing.She was in a race on the River Cam.The training is really rigorous.A schedule for every day of the week.It requires a lot of dedication.

 Grandpa with Angus and Finlay waiting for Ella to row by.
 Then on monday morning it was off toFrance.It is only two hours from Cambridge to Dover so seemed silly not to snatch a few days in France.We got a return ferry ticket for £40-bargain!

 From Calais we decided to drive down the coast towards Boulogne.This the view from cap Blanc Nez.From there we drove to our hotel in St Omer.We stayed at the Ibis which is right in the centre with loads of restaurants(even in October) which we could walk to.
The first day we drove through lovely countryside on back roads to Le Touquet which was dead,very quiet.On the way back we stopped at La Coupole-below.

 This is a huge concrete dome which you can just see in the middle and the entrance bottom left.In WW2 the Germans were building this facility to launch V2 rockets on London.it never got to be used because the war ended.Now it is a fascinating museum of WW2.A must visit place if you are in the area.

 At the back of St Omer is a marshy area.Monks dug waterways in the Middle Ages.It is now a country park with lots of pathways.Sorry there are no actual photos of St Omer.As you can see we had blue skies all the time.What a bonus as Autumn has now arrived.

I will leave you with a photo of a starter at one of our meals out.The French do it so well.We ate three wonderful meals on the three nights we were there including snails,frogs' legs and rabbit.
We had a wonderful break in Cambridge and France.The downside was a 5 and a half hour drive from Dover back home to North Wales.

Yarndale.what a wonderful day.

 The entrance hall was decked with bunting that Attic24's Lucy had asked people to make.She ended up with 6,000 triangles!They came from all over the world.

 Look at all this yummy knitted foodThe strawberry cake was amazing.

 I had taken my daughter with me and she managed to snap me having a word with Lucy.What a lovely,talented lady.My hand knitted lacy shawl was greatly admired by many.Quite an ego boost!

 Some of the things I bought.Angora,alpaca,sock yarn,a Learn to Spin kit,some needles and this kit.

 this is something I have never seen before and I can't wait to give it a go.this kit makes a unique bracelet.

Felting was a big thing at Yarndale and I bought the above to give me some practise.The Poppy kit makes two brooches and a purse kit.
I also bought my daughter some yarn to knit a scarf.I spent a fortune but have activities to keep me going for months.There was so much talent and creativity at Yarndale.Sarah and I kept saying "look at that.Amazing.".It was lovely to have a day out with my daughter(Daddy took the girls to Chester Zoo).Thank you Lucy from Attic24 for organising it.
P.S.Annie.did you know you were mentioned in the programme.

Yarndale

Anyone going to Yarndale in Skipton on Saturday?

A few days in the Cotswolds(UK)

 We decided on a little trip to the Cotswolds as a bit of a distraction from Ziggy.We stayed in the Premier Inn between Evesham and Broadway.This is Broadway.So picturesque.

 Another view of Broadway.Unfortunately the weather wasn't brilliant,in fact very dull,so the photos aren't the best.

 Bourton on the Water.Another pretty little village.Can you believe they already had a Christmas shop!

 Bourton again.

 We always try and visit a NT property when we are on our jaunts.This is Chastleton House near Chipping Norton.It is a Jacobean country house built in the 1600s and remains virtually unchanged.The atmosphere inside was wonderful bit it was quite a hike from the car park.Even worse going back -uphill!

 We always try and do a garden or two as well.This is Hidcote, the fulfilment of an American's English fantasy.It is full of garden "rooms".I would like to have seen it earlier in the season.

Very close to Hidcote is Kiftsgate a privately owned garden,much smaller than Hidcote but well worth a visit.
We are still missing Ziggy and I expect it will take quite a while to get over it.

I am feeling very sad tonight.

I am feeling very sad tonight as our cat ,Ziggy, died today.We think he was either knocked down or fell off the roof.He was always on the roof and used to come down via the patio table.He was less than two years old and such a wonderful, loving,friendly and funny cat.He was great with our grandchildren and they loved him to bits.They were here today and kept calling him but he never came.It was only late this morning we found his body at the side of the house.We couldn't tell them today.We were too upset.We pick them up from school on a Tuesday so no doubt we will have to tell them tomorrow.R.I.P. Ziggy.You were a great cat and we will never forget you.

Happy Days.

 Sarah,our daughter, came to stay for a few days last with Emily and Ruby.They only live 40 minutes away but wanted a little holiday at Grandma and Grandpa's house.How much can you fit into three days- a lot.The first day we went fossil hunting and then to Denbigh Castle.The second day ,with a poor weather forecast we headed for the seaside.Even though it was cold you just have to paddle in the sea and make sandcastles and have a picnic.This at Colwyn Bay.We then headed over to the West Shore at Llandudno where there is a super play area for children(and one for adults!)

 The faster you spin the funnier it is!

 This little chap was a star!They picked him up ,carried him round in bags,brushed him and played with him and he loved it.He is so good natured and very funny,chasing flies and butterflies in the garden.We had a super few days including a huge chinese takeaway where the girls tried lots of new things.We are so blessed to have them.

Finally,here are my three bunnies I have made.Although I have followed the same pattern they are all different.Sarah has asked me to knit two more for a colleague who is expecting twins.Along with promises to make stripey blankets for my Cambridge grandchildren I shall be  very busy !
P.S.I decided not to write about our French holiday when I know so many people can't afford to go away.It didn't feel right.

Yarndale Granny Bunting.

Lucy at Attic24 has organised Yarndale which is taking place in Skipton in September.She has asked for contributions of granny bunting to decorate the venue.I have gone for a "colours of the rainbow" theme.I have done a solid one for each colour and 8 rainbow ones.I decided on this theme so that hopefully I can spot mine on the day I go.Lucy likes a softer palette so I hope she doesn't think mine are too bright.They are winging their way to Skipton now.
My next blogpost(I havn't done one for nearly two months) will be about our recent holiday in the Loire Valley in France.A week of total self indulgence!!Wonderful.

Azalea time.

 Our front garden is full of azaleas.These two are in flower at the moment and I just think they are the most wonderful colours.I should have taken the photos yesterday when it was sunny not today when it is pouring down.

This the most beautiful pink colour.More photos when others come out.
My stepmother died yesterday.We went up to visit and I had been holding her hand(warm) and talking to her when I realised she wasn't breathing.She had obviously just slipped away in her sleep just before we arrived.Quite a surreal situation to be in.She was 86 and had never been ill until two years ago when the Big C got her.

Ruby Rabbit.

Here is Ruby Rabbit.I am thrilled with her but can see her imperfections.It makes you realise how talented Julie over at Little Cotton Rabbits is.Since she released the pattern last there is a whole gang of little rabbits being made all over the world.The power of the internet.
Now, to change the subject all together.Do you ever feel that you are the one doing all the caring about others but when you need a bit of TLC no one notices.Last week a cousin of mine died.She was only 70 which is relatively young these days.We are waiting for a phone call to say my step mother has passed away.It is a very complicated situation because she was only married to my father for 5 years and he died in 1981.Since then she has been in the family home.My brother and I have no idea what is going to happen to the house.She has two sisters who are doing a wonderful job looking after her at home.We should be going on holiday in 10 days time but I don't think that will happen.My friends know all about this,my OH does, my children do but no one thinks about me.This making me sound very selfish but I am the one on the phone all the time asking them how they are.
Anyway, sorry about the moaning but I feel better.It won't happen again.Honestly!

W.I.Ps (yes, another blanket and a rabbit!)

 Having made blankets for two out of my three granddaughters I decided that my two grandsons (Finlay 10 next Friday and Angus 6) should not miss out.I am quite pleased with how the colours are panning out.Making these blankets is a mindless occupation I can do while watching TV.

 OOPS.Don't know what happened here and don't know how to turn it.Julie over at Little Cotton Rabbits has released the patterns for two of her adorable little rabbits so I decided to have a go.I think the head is probably the trickiest bit and I feel quite pleased with how it has turned out.I am using Rowan Alpaca Cotton which has a nice texture to it.

This is,hopefully, what my Ruby Rabbit should look like when finished..