Decisions, decisions.

Sorry about the photos disappearing. Have no idea - how or why. Anyhoo, I have decided, after 10 years of this blog, to mothball it.

I won't delete it for now. As I often check the archives to remember dates and things. But with the stuff going on in my life right now I just don't have the time or inclination to blog anymore.

Thank you to everyone who has read it over the years and put up my with my knitting obsession, my rants and general wittering.

Perhaps in the future I'll start a new blog to go with life as it is now.

Where have you been my lovely?

Yesterday I went to Steyning to go to Wind Up a monthly knitting/crochet etc meet up organised by the ladies at Bessie May and Textile Garden. It is a lovely event. Plenty of space, friendly people, a few well chosen trading stalls and this month the cake was themed around doughnuts (and very nice they were too), good strong coffee was an added bonus.

M was so impressed he intends to have a stall next month to sell some of his wonderful yarn bowls.

Also trading was Kate from YAK who had a delightful table of yarny goodness from our very own The Uncommon Thread among others. I indulged myself in a little Malabrigo goodness.

I've been off variegated yarn for a while but something about this colour just sang out to me. The owl shawl pin came from the Textile Garden.

It made for a lovely afternoon and all three of us (a knitting friend came too) had a lovely time. They have a group on Ravelry and if you are in the area next month (I think it's the 22/11) I can highly recommend dropping in.


Yesterday was a good post day too (actually it's been a good post week). I received this wonderful custom dyed BFL from  the talented limegreenjelly. I asked for a blend of orange that was bright but subtle and Jo nailed it. I can feel my spinning mojo coming back to life just looking at it.

Now we have our little trip to look forward. The boy and Ma are dog sitting. J is swamped with college work so decided to stay home (sensible lad) so M and I are taking a little road trip. Really looking forward to meeting up with one of his pottery friends and have some 'us' time.

Will be back with photos soon.

Whoopsie

A month since my last post - how did that happen?

Well it's mainly due to being ill, being knackered and working more.

You've not missed much. Our 27th anniversary came and went. We've eaten out a couple of times, been to the theatre, booked a little break away but apart from that, it has just been life and stuff really.

End of an era.

As of yesterday I am no longer a home educating Mum. J started college.

He did an extra year of IGCSE's because he wanted to start on a Level 2 course and he didn't have quite enough to do it, but this year he got the exams he needed and that allowed me to pass on his educational baton to the professionals.

Part of me is sad, but most of me is glad. Glad to see him spread his wings, move on and grow as a human being (in J's case I use that term very lightly). It is the right time for all of us. It does feel a bit strange, not to be planning his study every week or discussing course work with him in great detail every evening. It also feels good not be nagging him as well.

I am looking forward to supporting him, watching him and hope he flies high and free from now on.

A decade on (pretty much)

On 31/08/04 I wrote my first ever post on this blog, and as J just pointed out I spelt 'blog' wrong on the title. I still can't spell.

I was giving the whole blog experience some thought the other day, pondering on how I had changed over 10 years of blogging and also on how the family has changed too.

The family thing that came to mind first was J - he was 7 when I started, I was home educating him and he was small.

He's not so small now - he is taller than me and I think he is taller then M. (This was taken earlier this year and he had shaved for once!) His voice is very deep and his limbs long and lean but I am pleased to say he is still very daft.

I then thought about the pets. When I started this blog we had Lou-Lou the Dalmatian and Buster the black and white arsehole.....sorry I mean kitty. We also had a guinea pig and numerous tarantulas. The fur babies have passed on and we have different pets now. We have no small furries at all and only two tarantulas.

Of all of us I think M has changed the least. In the last 10 years he has learnt to play the bass guitar and is even more into his pottery. His beard is greyer but he is a constant, pretty much.

I have changed - my hair style and colour numerous times. My weight still goes up, down, up, up, down, up, up and down again. I always seem to end up in the same place, so think my body is telling me this is where it and I are happiest (that's my excuse and I'm sticking to it). In the 10 years of this blog I learnt to knit socks, I learnt to spin, I managed to get my degree, play the Ukulele (badly), I am less of a Luddite, I got J through his exams and ready for college and last year the biggest change of all I went back to work (really need to update my profile - lol).

We have had good times and bloody awful times. We have had some awesome adventures - going to Fair Isle comes to mind - we have been happy and have also felt times of total despair. We have been broke more than once and through it all we have stuck together and come out of it all - hopefully - stronger and wiser than before.

I am still undecided on the fate of this blog. For now I'll keep it up and just see how it goes and how I feel. Still 10 years isn't too shabby - is it?

Rainbow Scotties

We have just had a couple of weeks off work for a family stay-cation. It's been lovely. Very relaxed. M got loads of pottery done and I fancied doing some stitching. What started out as trying to make a design of a Scottish Terrier shape, grew into a plethora of little rainbow scottie dogs with bows.

After finishing the panel I had no idea what to do with it at all but out shopping yesterday I found these......

The panel seemed perfect to be edged by bright cotton and turned into a cushion. The result is a wonderful additon for my favourite chair in the bedroom.

The rest of my time off was spent in reading, spinning, knitting and eating and drinking delicious stuff. M cooked up a storm including scallops and streak and a visit to the wonderful cheese shop in Lewes resulted in a fabulous lunch.

I went back to work for two days last week which was a pleasant way to ease my way back in and M goes back Monday. We loved having so many lazy days with no time strictures or demands on our days. I think we all benefited from it - even J- who is making the most of his summer holiday anyway.

Pebble Beach in a seaside garden.

I took part in a KAL (knit-a-long) on the Curious Handmade forum to make this lovely Pebble Beach Shawlette. The pattern was included in the Unwind programme and was designed by Helen Stewart.

I finished this last week but have been waiting for right light to take pictures as bright orange (like bright red) can be a real bitch to photograph.

As we can see the sea from home the idea of photographing this in our 'seaside' garden amused me and today the light was perfect. Not only to show the true orange of the yarn but also the stitch definition as the pattern.

This is a lovely pattern to knit, quite simple and beautifully written and is now available to buy on Ravelry.

Details of the yarn used etc can be found either on my Rav project page or via an earlier blog post.

I also finished a bobbin of spinning today. The fibre is from some I purchased at Unwind. I am spinning it by gradient and have already started bobbin 2. Holidays are great for getting on with craft stuff that you have put off.