On my hook this week

And listening to the rain outside, I'm guessing there will be plenty of time for crochet!

Joining in with Chrissie here

x

Winter light

As the light faded this afternoon, the rain briefly stopped.  It made for a rather unusual "sunset".
I don't think any more words are needed - it was quite spooky.
xx

Flowers

I was hoping the rain would stop (I know, ever the optimist!) and then I could go outside and take some photos, and share what is happening in the garden.

There are some snowdrops, even a crocus or two, out in flower.  The hellebores are flowering too, and I expect if I search harder there is more happening as Spring approaches.  

However, it hasn't stopped raining, for what feels like days!  And even if I could spend more then 30 seconds outside, the photos would be rubbish.

To brighten things up indoors, I bought myself two bunches of tulips at the weekend.  

Actually - they weren't the most successful purchase as they look like this!

I found a bunch of daffodils in M&S this afternoon - so the tulips have been replaced.

Off to do some more crochet now - I'll post a profess update soon.

xx

Little Things

Life isn't going quite as planned at the moment - so it was time to take a moment to appreciate some of the little things around me when I was out for a walk this morning.  

Hope you got to see some sunshine too - we are due yet more rain here!

xx

More crochet

Evening

Another busy a week or so - and I am not quite sure where the time has gone!  Work, sport for Matt (including a full day hockey tournament), more birthday celebrations for Mark - I guess that's it really.  And once you add in the ordinary stuff that still has to be done, I suppose that's where my days have disappeared to.

I have found time to start a new crochet project though - the as we go stripy blanket.  I haven't managed to get as much done as I was hoping, but am enjoying the process so far, and learning some new stitches along the way.

Here are some photos

Trying to work out the colour order

Making a start

Night - time to go and add another stripe.  :)

x

First Finished Project of the Year

I loved Yarndale in September and bought a few skeins of the most beautiful yarn.  However, finding the "right" project for it has proved trickier!  I have never spent that much on a single ball of wool, so the hand dyed, silk skein needed special treatment.  Having only bought one skein, my options were a little limited - but I could only really justify buying one.

I settled on this pattern - available on ravelry.  Sorry about the photos, there hasn't been much good light for photography recently.   I am quite pleased with the wrap, which I shall mainly wear as a scarf.  I have never used silk yarn before, it definitely needed blocking.  It was more than a little scary, soaking my hard work, and then stretching it out across the hall landing for 48 hours!  But it was worth it.  I don't think it was my favourite to crochet with, but it is very pretty - if I do say so myself!  The little beads are so unusual, and I have already worn it to work.

So, that's my first project completed.  I am already working in the next.  I'm just starting a new blanket!  It definitely feels right to be starting a new big project at the start of the new year.

x

Brighton

As I said,  last weekend we celebrated Mark's 50th Birthday.  We spent last Saturday with friends and our siblings in Brighton.  We met in the afternoon at a hotel for a slice of birthday cake and later more friends joined us for supper.

It went brilliantly - if I do say so myself.  Mark's organising paid off.  It was a little bit of a worry that friends were coming from different parts of our life, but everyone got on really well, and it was so nice of people to write and email to say how much they had enjoyed themselves, and particularly when they had not known each other beforehand.

Here are a few photos of the occasion.

 An uncanny likeness I think! :)

Having fun with a friend.

It rained all of Saturday, but Sunday morning was beautiful.

I love living in the country, but there is something glorious about waking up be the sea.

Helping paws?

Look who's helping me tonight!

Have a great weekend. 

x

Hello

Sorry I've not been around much - not posting nor commenting.

As I mentioned in my last post, it was Mark's birthday on 1st January, and we have done a lot of celebrating. However, it was back to the routine this morning.  Although it would have been nice to have a couple more days to get over the late night on Saturday, in some ways it was nice to get back to "normal" today.  Everyone up, and out of the house at a sensible time.  I've cleaned through - and it stayed that way for a couple of hours.  I've almost caught up with the washing.

So next on my list is to catch up with blogging.  I've been reading them on my phone, but commenting is trickier!

Anyway, this was the school run this morning - or was it a swim?

This isn't a stream, but the footpath!  Oh well - it was a good work out too!  :)

Hoping I will be organised and back to posting and commenting by the end of the week at the latest.

See you soon.

Sara