I blame it on the podcasts.

Seriously, I have no idea why I never discovered podcasts earlier, I am addicted. There I have said it, gone to the dark side and watching podcasts rather than reading blogs. I only went onto youtube to get a video on hand dying yarn, and I lost weeks! My subscription list has grown and I am now trying to cut them down to a few, I am becoming more antisocial than I was before, poor old hubs has me sat there with headphones on watching podcasts about knitting whilst I am knitting.Could be worse I could be eating garbage whilst watching tv impersonating a couch potato! My current favourite is 'The Grocery girls', if your into knitting go check them out, I love them.

On the positive side it has really inspired my knitting, I have been knitting a storm, total monogamous knitting, keeping to one project rather than swapping about, want to see what I have been clicking away on?

Totally love the pattern and yarn, don't love knitting with different size needles, 1 small and 1 large. I also decided to use slippy needles so a lot of cussing has been going on, but I am pretty much done, about 16 rows and its cast off time !! yipee.  Will be adding tassel's to the end of the scarf, The yarn is from Rosie's moments , its one of her mystery yarn boxes ' wonders of the world' , I have just had the second box and I absolutely love the yarn this month, cant show yet, have to wait till everyone has their boxes! don,t want to be a spoil sport. I have also ordered the 3rd in the series' niagara falls' fab little indie yarn shop, go take a look if your a knitter/crocheter. The pattern is 'Painted' by Louise Zass-Bangham. 

Then I want to get my socks finished so I can start knitting up something else! I have been exceptionally naughty on  building my stash and have lots of new yarn to play with. That's in addition to my own hand dyed yarn ! yep, I got the dyes out for the first time in years and dyed up some yarn!  Didn't have much choice on colours but hey, it was good to get back into being creative. I feel so much happier when I make pretty things. want to take a peak? its still drying so will get a better pic for you when there all dried and looking nice.

From this

To this

The mini skeins were done in the microwave and the large skeins on the stove top. The mini skeins have been died using the 3 same colours and hopefully when knit up will look better than they do now!, the purple has silver sparkles in....my favourite so far is the blue, but it needs to dry so they may all look slightly different then. 

I have really enjoyed getting the dye pots back out, its made me realise how much work has taken over, I need to get back to reclaiming the weekends again, else I get swallowed in work and housework and have no time to play. 

Routine.

Ahhhhhhh, back to routine and it feels so good.After a busy half term break which included 2 weekends away, a sick hubby and son and a couple of work days thrown in its nice to get back to normal. Don't get me wrong I thoroughly enjoyed my time away but I really do need some down time.Just need to get through the working week to get some !

So the weekend just gone was juniors birthday treat from his god mother, he had an amazing time, as did I.

Friend and I walked miles around Nottingham whilst no 2 and her hubby went to warhammer world. We hit some art galleries, avoided the main batch of shops and headed for the creative quarter! It was fab, No goodies were bought, we just wandered, stopped at St Mary's church and listened to an amazing choir and just enjoyed the sites. At the end of the day we did walk down to meet them at warhammer as they wanted to showus the exhibition ! not my cup of tea at all, but hey, must show some interest in no 2 sons hobbies. The day was ended with a hearty meal and a good sleep . Up early we walked back to warhammer world for breakfast on Sunday ! they just couldn't get enough! then had a leisurely drive home . My lovely hubby had cooked a roast beef dinner and lit the fire, so it was a night of knitting and rubbish TV! Bliss.

Lundy.

A fabulous time was had by all, the weather was blooming freezing but we really only had 1 wet day.

The journey over and back was amazing, I am a convert to helicopters!

We stayed in the same place as last year, for those that go to Lundy it is worth booking the quarters, it may look like a wooden shed but its really snug and has great views

This year we climbed up to the top of the lighthouse

the views were worth it

we walked about the island

and scrambled onto the beach

The days drew to a close by a roaring log fire in the pub with great food and good company.

I even managed a spot of knitting.

                                                                

I cant believe its over for another year, We will be back.

Off the needles.

I seem to have found my knitting mojo this year, I have actually finished things that I will wear!

Not sure why its come back with a vengeance, maybe its getting a new job right at the start of the year or  maybe its my new addiction of watching knitting podcasts, that's a whole other post! 

Whatever it is I am really enjoying my knitting time.

First up is my gorgeous green 'knit night' shawlette, deliberately long and slim to wrap around my neck.

then my 2nd 'knit nite' shawlette, shorter and thicker to drape over my shoulders.

Absolutely love this pattern and could knit one in every colour.

I choose not to hard block these out so the little picot points are more subtle, when I next knit this pattern I am going to block those little points right out! Just need to find the right colour, maybe a contrast for my denim jacket, yes I do still wear a denim jacket, I love it.

Then this week I have completed hubs 'Baa-ble' hat,

He didn't want the bobble , so here for your amusement is Mr & Mrs Baa-ble

Sad but true, at least they are different colours.

I am now onto finishing a pair of socks and have just cast on the holiday knitting project [ did I tell you I am going to Lundy again?] 

Then I WILL look at finishing my stripe camping  cardigan I started years ago.. camping season is almost here and every year I have said I will finish the blooming thing!

That's the last Photo I can find, I have actually finished the body, its just the sleeves and edge to do, my least favourite things, guess thats why its still a WIP .

February.

Hello to  February, my Birthday month.

I have grand plans for February, which includes taking some annual leave in my notice period, I have worked 1 week, so have another 7 to go, its going to be a long slog. I can understand the whole you have to give 8 weeks notice thing, they have to recruit another nurse and get them trained up , but boy am I struggling. My Brain is already looking towards the new job. Its going to be challenging and probably stressful, but I hope will be much more rewarding than the job I do now. 

We are heading off to Lundy for a lovely long weekend to celebrate my birthday, Cornish friend is coming with us, no boat ride over this time, thankfully, the last trip I was sick the entire journey over, was a bit rough to say the least!, as its winter season we are going over by HELICOPTER , excited is an understatement, I really don't like heights but hope that being sat inside a helicopter I will manage, its only a 6 minute ride so worse case scenario I have to keep my eyes closed!. But boy am I in need of a break, the joy of Lundy is that its a total switch off, no Internet, no wifi, generally no phone signal, and no TV... we read we walk, we talk we play board games, do jigsaw puzzles and sleep well at night. In addition to staying in a fab place , can you believe there's going to be a lunar eclipse and a comet on my birthday !

Then I have another weekend away in February, can you believe it? one of my dear friends and god mother to no 2 son, is taking no 2 and I off to Nottingham for a weekend trip. Its no 2's late 16th birthday treat, her hubs is a big warhammer fan and a great painter of the teeny figures, a shared interest with no 2, so while friend and I have some girly time, they get to go to WARHAMMER WORLD! not my cup of tea, but no 2 loves it, what a great gift.

Then I have a dinner date with one of my other close friends, they are coming over to us and we are headed out for an Indian feast at a local restaurant, fabulous! and then the other remaining close friend, [I have 4 ] and I will be doing a cinema trip!!

February it would seem is the month of friendship! anyone who read my old blog may remember my post about friendships and the difficulty in keeping them alongside making new ones when you get older. these 4 ladies are the ones that I call my real close friends, the ones I have shared ups and downs with, people I have shared sadness and happiness with, the ones who really don't give a damn what state your house is in, what you look like or anything else, there just great friends. I love them all.

So here's to my lovely February, lets hope the sun shines at least for a little bit this month!

1975 !

Baa-ble Hat.

One of my goals for this year is to challenge myself with different knitting styles, but keeping in mind I have to wear it, I do have a habit of knitting things and never wearing them.

This years first project is completed, it was a while back to be honest, but due to lack of blogging mojo just didn't get round to sharing with you. This project was cast on with a very clear purpose, to keep my head & ears warm when we fly [ helicopter] off to lundy  for a whole glorious long weekend ,to celebrate my birthday.[ yep I am excited]

 so without further ado, here she is

absolutely loved knitting her, much easier than it first appeared. the hardest part was attaching the bobble!

If you would like to get the pattern you can find it here Baa-ble Hat, there's also mittens, a cowl & childrens sizes . Shockingly Hubby has asked for 1 too! currently knitting up in a different colourway but will introduce you to Mr & Mrs Baa-ble when its done !