What I'm reading.

I'm in a bit of a book slump, really not knowing what I want to read.

I have a large number of books in my to read pile but none of them are really calling to me. 

Always one to find any excuse to buy books I met a friend for coffee who wanted some new books, so whats a girl to do?

The charity shop had a deal on the books so I picked up 3 for a £1, can't wrong with that and I will get around to reading them at some point. Then they will get passed onto said friend or back to the charity shop.

I've grabbed this one to read, I loved the Alchemist By Paulo Coelho so am hoping this will hit the spot.

I'll let you know what I think of it. 

WIP Wednesday.

I've actually managed some knitting and spinning this week !

I've managed a few rows on my inner peace shawl, the little stitch marker shows where it was last Wednesday.

Really loving the yarn and the pattern on this shawl, But I have been totally floored by the need to knit a sweater!

I actually swatched for my Monstera sweater....

pretty pleased with my colour-work and worked out I needed to go down half a size on the needles. I have now cast on and am doing the neck ribbing. I'll be honest I'm a bit nervous about doing the colour work, I've also changed the blue out for a sage green colour, hopefully It will arrive tomorrow so I have it before I head off to my knitting retreat. But then I might change my mind again.. maybe a deep red? or cream? 

My lovely wheel was also pulled out this week and I managed to get some spinning in

Just 10g left of this batt, then to spend the other 50g batt. 

All in all a pretty good crafty week, I've also managed to read a whole book too!

Monday already?

Well this weekend disappeared in a flash.

Saturday was mainly filled with house stuff, had a huge to do list that took most of the day, was great to see some of the tasks done though, and my little den looks lovely.

I didn't get to do any crafty stuff, so Sunday morning I made time to get a little craftiness done first thing,

Half an hours worth of spinning !

It felt good to be back on the wheel, she needed a bit of oiling and a quick dust above and before long she was flying a again. Just got about 10g left to spin of this batt then can crack on with the other, this is what I .m spinning from

Just the last dark purple to go.

I also caked up some of the sweater yarn to get the new sweater project on the go

I'm not sure about the blue now so have ordered a skein of a green shade, I've started on the test square, which also acts as a bit of a practice for the stranded knitting.so far so good, hopefully I will have it started before I head off Friday

The rest of sunady was spent food shopping and ironing, we had father in law down for dinner and then when we went home we watched the last episode of a netflix series we have been watching, Dark 

I'll be honest here, it lost me, I enjoyed the programme but all the time travel totally confused me ! I had to keep asking whats happening now? who's that?  must have been really annoying for hubs! It was the last of the currents series so I'll have to go find something else for us to watch now!

And that was it, weekend gone, back to work but at least its only a 4 day week for me.

New Job and a knitting retreat.

All required documents and occupational health clearance have been completed, I have the contract and its signed. Start date for the new job is 4th October,  2 weeks and counting.

I'm going back to my previous organisation, same team, but different role and different line manager, I am assured that things have much improved since I left back in February.  As I was one of the staff on the redundancy list with the current job, I am able to waive the required 8 weeks notice period so its been a really quick turn around ! Relieved to be honest, working for an organisation that's wrapping up is not good, plenty of my colleagues not on the TUPE list are yet to find jobs, I've been pretty lucky.

Its a good time to wrap up a job as next weekend I am off on a knitting retreat in Cornwall! This year I have wanted to push my self out of my little hermit shell and do things on my wish list. For those that know  me this is quite a big thing, going away with a group of people I dont know. Not something that I would normally do, but its booked, its paid for and I will be setting off next Friday.  I am a little hesitant, but in my experience knitting folk can be pretty friendly people so am hopeful it will be a fun weekend. Worse case scenario I pack up and head to my Cornish friends house for teh weekend !

Obviously as I am off to a knitting retreat I needed a whole new fresh project to take. I've broken my yarn buying ban and grabbed this pile of gorgeousness.

not a dreary colour in sight. More subtle in real life, more a golden autumnal yellow and an inky blue.

I am off to  New York in December, (another off the wish list,invited to go with friends, hubs said yes!) and its going to be cold. I need a jumper, I actually own FEW little sweaters and rarely wear them, being a big lass I am generally warm. Thinking I need a lightweight sweater that can be worn ontop of a long sleeve top and fit under the coat.

Pushing myself out of the comfort knitting zone this is what I am planning.......

Monstera

By Marie Amelie Designs. 

Photo from pattern page. 

I think it would be a miracle if I get this done before December !

WIP Wednesday.

I've not been doing  much knitting of late but these are the 2 most recent WIPS.

First Up is my sunset find your fade shawl, absolutely love this yarn pack and pattern.

  Loving the project bag it's kept in too! actually a toiletry / make  bag from primark!

And then there's my Inner peace shawl

Also held in one of my favourite Primark washbags!

I really do love both these projects and this post has made me want to knit them! Cooler days are coming !

Wonder what progress you'll see next week.

Apologies and Frank.

So last night I decided to spend a little time catching up with my blog. I hadn't realised how absent I have been. I started going back through the comments that had been left that I had not answered. I am so sorry, I cant believe I have not acknowledged 1 comment since the beginning of June ! Shame on me. And thank you to you lot for sticking with me. I promise I will try harder with this blogging thing 

I'll leave you some pics of Frankie boy

When Frank first came to live with us, he was not a cuddly dog or a lap dog, he was a dog that liked his own space. Now, as you can see  he is most definitely a cuddly lapdog ! Progress !

Life update.

I seem to have been absent from blogging for quite a while now, life really has been full on. 

I have had a summer of fun with lots of exciting things happening, but now its back to normality and routine. No 2 son starts UNI tomorrow so its all back in place. Each of us having our own weekly life pattern to follow.

Work wise, well what can I say. Last time I told you that I was going to look for a new job, well I have found one! Blooming good job too as my company lost a major contract and for those of us not on the TUPE list we were going to be made redundant!! as I have only been there for 6 months I would have not received anything. Phew is all I can say..It felt strangely liberating, that feeling of not having to do it any more, not have to hate going to work. Hopefully this job will be better, I already know the people that I will be working with and know about the job so fingers crossed. 

Yarny craftiness hasn't really occurred much, far too busy and its been too hot for knitting with wool. But winter and short days is on the way so I feel that knitting itch starting to come back. My poor old sewing machine hasn't seen the light of day for months, and my lovely spinning wheel is looking very neglected over in the corner.

Frank the hound has settled well, BUT... he blooming hates dogs. Very problematic when trying to take him for a good walk, so yet again we have a dog that needs a behaviourist ! He now has a very fetching muzzle and a bright orange harness clearly saying NO DOGS...  sadly he really hates wearing the muzzle but needs must. Currently trying to find a secure field we can rent out so he can free run for a bit. But hes a fab chap at home and we love him dearly. He really has made a difference.

And that's it, a quick little life update, I'm still here just up to lots, at some point I might get around to posting pics of some of the things. I'll leave you with a couple of pics from this weekend, hubs and I went off in Barry the Bongo for a brief overnight trip. The weather was glorious and it was a full moon too ! 

Cheddar, in Somerset.