Monday already and weekly plans.

Due to my oversight Sunday night, (forgot to publish the post), I'm running day behind! That's what I get for setting up blog posts in advance, thought it would be a good idea to get some started so that all I would have to do was finish them and publish! still couldn't get it right. So rather than waste them, here's Mondays !

Mondays come around far too fast. I've lost my weekends again recently, becoming more reclusive and not wanting to get out much. Maybe its the time of year? shorter days, longer nights. I just dont seem to get much done and certainly nothing ' me' orientated. I do do a good impression of a couch potatoe though ! I need to get out more..

This weeks commute reading from my 'to read pile' is 

I have read a few of her books this year and love the dark fairy tales. Am hoping this is going to be enjoyable. 

My knitting project of choice will be this

The hat, by Plucky knitter.

I've  got a cute pom pom ready for the top

Will probably go with the white one, grabbed these from Purl a Row  when I went on her knitting retreat.

I've only got a short 4 day week as am off on a girly weekend away with some girls from work and their Lurchers ! sadly Frankie boy cant come as he doesn't like other dogs. It's a Friday to Monday weekend in Looe, Cornwall and will consist of dog walking and general girly chat. I have never been away with these girls before and they are all work colleagues, I was reluctant especially as I have to share a room, but do you know what, I put my big girl pants on and said yes.

So I need to get my case packed ready for Friday, plan the food shop as I will be away and make sure i'm all up together on the laundry front. Sadly the housekeeping Fairies seem to forget my house.

Tuesday night we are off out to meet the friends we are going to Newyork with, so we can do some planning, so really I only have 3 nights at home.

One of the nights I need to get my journal up to date, that's running behind too, and i'm bound to get some great pics from the weekend so need to get my pics printed out ready for some new ones.

Another night I need to get a menu plan done, I'm so far off a healthy eating plan its scary.

I need to find some time to blog and then to pack.

Sounds like I may be having a busy week.

Weekending.

Saturday was a bit of a washout. It hammered down all day. Hubs and the boys were away so it was just me and the hound. He sulks when they leave him.I dragged him out midday for a walk, much to his disgust, he does have a coat, but the combination of wind and rain really doesn't do it for him.

I love the walk down here to the riverbank, its a little alley of trees that opens up onto a great huge open space that runs along the river.It was pretty boggy underfoot, but I got to take my new wellies out for a run !

Supershiny, navy blue beauties. Rather expensive for wellies but when you've got fat calves whats a girl to do. I can actually get these on and tuck my jeans in. I always struggle with wellies, have never found a long, up to the knee boot that I can get on, always end up with shorties. These though are in between. Love them. They will definitely be worn a lot this winter, and hopefully for many more to come.

As the hubs/boys were due home Saturday night I put a beef curry in the slow cooker for them, I did all the laundry, so impressed with my new tumble drier, no more clothes airers and radiators full of wet things.Then after a quick tidy round, I sat and knitted on this beauty

Its the 'Dust of snow' wrap by Helen Stewart.

This is one of teh pictures from her pattern page

I'm missing out all the fancy lace bits and just doing continuous garter stitch. Its a fab pattern, using up a lot of my mini skeins held double with some kidsilk mohair

Luckily I bought 3 skeins from Chester wool as I am a bit of a addict to this at the moment, this is now waiting patiently to be cast on as well

That's my own hand dyed yarn from the knitting retreat

We're off to Newyork for a few nights in December and I am thinking its going to be cold.Might need to knock a quick pair of mitts too.

The hubs/boys rolled in just after 7 Saturday night, as England had won their match there were a little happy, so it was a quiet evening in front of the TV.

Sunday, an extra hour in bed meant I woke at 4.30am not the usual 5.30, sometimes it would be nice to have a lie in. Stayed in bed a while and finally gave up. Made a cuppa and decided to tidy up my blog and try to get back into blog mode. I'd also been given the details of a secure field you can rent for dogs. Given Frank doesn't like other dogs, our dog trainer gave us the details of this field so that he can run and chase balls, when he's out he has to be muzzled and kept on a lead. Managed to register and book a couple of slots in the week. Weekends seem to be pretty full.

We took him down to the beach today, but as the sun was shining , it was busy and loads of dogs running around made it a bit stressful, but his training does seem to be working as long as dogs are at a distance.

It was quite warm in the sun, so much so took my coat off and was walking in my long sleeve t-shirt. What a glorious day. Came home and cooked a Shepherds pie ready for dinner then decided to crack on with the hat.

Grr, I just couldn't get the hang of double pins, the Iris hat was also top down so you start with 12 stitches, well I just couldn't get it, there is a reason that I dont knit with double pins, that's because I hate them. Knitting is a pleasure, my safe comfy hobby. Can't be doing with having a pattern that makes me irritated,so gave up on that.

Searched around for something else I could use the yarn for, and came up with this little beauty

The Hat, from plucky knitter,( photo from her pattern page).

Easy cast on and super simple pattern, so far am loving it.

Sunday evening was finished off with TV knitting, the new  David Attenborough series, Seven worlds, one planet. started last night and it didn't disappoint. Wow, is all I can say. If you haven't watched it I would definitely go find it.

I was so engrossed with my knitting and the TV I completely forgot to finish this post and post it !, hence you are getting it this morning before I head off to work. 

First week done.

First week in new job done.

Its been full on, in at the deepend and didn't stop for breath until Friday!

But the team are great and I think when I work it all out, i'll love it. Busy also means the week flies by.

To celebrate the end of my first week hubs and I had a date night straight from work !

He was waiting for me in the local pub with a very large gin waiting for me ! hes a keeper !

We went to a local foody evening market to get something to eat

This was the yummiest burger ever, I had the beef & chorizo with a  slice of Halloumi !!

Had a lovely time, but home by 10.30 as was knackered!

Last weekend I did a bit of sorting and downsizing of 'stuff', during that I found this

Can you believe I cut this out in April ! shame on me

well I have dragged it out and aim to get my machine out tomorrow, this needs sewing up because I may just have bought a new sewing project

The Hippolyta dress!

pic and pattern from here 

with this blooming gorgeous fabric

Pic and fabric from here

How blooming fab is that ?

If you click through the pattern link you will see the dress made up in this fabric, I absolutely love it and its PLUS SIZE...... no faffing about with trying to upsize it..

I really love the patterns on the sew me something website its definitely worth a browse.

Working, Spinning and Bloglovin followers.

Day 2 at the new job done, I can honestly say my brain is full to capacity!

But despite the stress of learning a new job, I'm loving it. Everyone's great, I have all the electronic equipment to do the job and am being let lose next week ! Blooming knackered at the end of the day though, but what wonderful sunrises we have had

Last weekend I had a major declutter of my little pink den, it feels so much clearer. I swapped over the summer clothes for the winter clothes and was ruthless, 2 more bin bags for the charity shop. As I am clearing away all this 'stuff' my crafting mojo is definitely coming back. I actually managed to finish that 50 g set I started ages ago, 

now all I have do do is spin the other 50g and ply it.

For all you bloglovin people out there, a question for you, is there anyway you can stop people following you, or blocking them? I seem to have had a spate of new followers, some of which I am pretty sure are a bit weird! I've gone from 15 to 31 in a matter of days?

Apologies also to the new followers on this blog, I dont get notifications and am sorry for not picking it up sooner! Bloggers, where do you find your list of bloggers , other than the followers box on the blog page? does that make sense?

Leaving, starting and new friends.

Another break in blogging service, sorry.

I have just completed my resignation period and finally left the old job on yesterday. Phew.

New Job starts on Monday and I am quietly optimistic that I am going to enjoy this one far more than the last.

Last weekend was the knitting retreat, what can I say. Despite my anxiety about not knowing anyone it was fab. Absolutely loved it. New friends made and another retreat booked with the same group of ladies for next year at Wonderwool. 

I dyed yarn

visited the organisers yarn shop

Purl a row

she has a great selection of yarns and has indie dyers each month, well worth a visit if you are in Cornwall. 

bought yarn, obviously

a pattern

some pom poms

and a cute crocheted hat I just fell in love with

We stayed in an amazing cottage

and yes, that was my HUGE bedroom. A little spooky in the pitch black with creaky cottage sounds !

Didn't try the bath out though !