Snow? or Snow DROPS!

For the first time in a-a-a-a-ages we have been able to get out for a walk. We wrapped up warmly and set off for the hills behind Austwick in the Dales. With bitterly icy winds and low cloud we followed an old packhorse route. Narrow and sunken, winding between old tumbled walls.

Eldest noticed first - catkins, nodding in the weak sunshine.

Then, further along the lane, in a quiet south facing tumble of dried leaves................snow drops. 

Snowdrops - this must be the earliest I've ever seen them. There were plenty of daffodil leaves pushing through the leaves too.

The lane undulated through fields and below woodlands and dropped down to a ford. We stopped at the old clapper bridge.

Over the years, we have crossed that clapper bridge many times. It is one of our favourite routes through a delightful part of our world

The walls were draped with thick pillows of moss. It felt incredibly spongy and luxuriant. 

 Probably due to all the recent rains, springs had erupted everywhere and usually small trickles were fast flowing streams.

Our lunch spot was another favourite of ours, the sheep wash dub fields. Farmers would herd their flocks up to this point, dam the river and wash their sheep,cleaning their fleeces hopefully ridding them of parasites.

Then, as the day progressed, the icy breeze blew away the low grey cloud and briefly gorgeous strong colours appeared.

As we finished the last leg of our walk, the sun slipped down behind the horizon, the temperature dropped and the sky took on a delicate pink tinge.

It was cathartic, it was refreshing, it was wonderful !

Not quite as it seems

Have you ever started something that you thought would be easy to complete?
You know one of those jobs that you 'know' will take a little effort but are worth it?
Well - this was not one of those.

I did think it would be................. a quick job, that is.

All it was, was a small amount of tanglement - courtesy of a tidy up session to include a catling. A small white catling with 20 claws and a wicked sense of play.......who thought ruffling through a ball of red yarn was about the most delicious fun E*V*E*R.......

 Who would have thought that from that mash-up of yarn (above) to the lovely tidy squat ball would taken me SEVERAL HOURS........................no, me neither,  *sigh*

So, despite having my hands and mind occupied with yarn - I didn't get much knitting time this weekend.

Still languishing under the thumb of a lingering lurgy. Catling likes it though - means lots of cat-lap-napping =^.,.^=

yours in sniffles - hawthorn xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

ps We're getting geared up for our Yarnival -the adventure continues 2013 - pop over for an update!

Zombie Nation

Be scared.....be very scared.

Meet the zombie my son......off to a horror disco. Complete with fake blood, stitched body parts and bullet hole in his head. While he was out, Eldest and I attempted to put the chrimbly decs away.

 Apparently Zombie-boy had a good time apart from finding the music too loud!
As each guest left they were handed a rather yummy cupcake complete with the birthday girl's age, small ghost and black star.

The sweaty mini-zom was sent upstairs for a shower forthwith and came back down restored to his former more human self. I think he had a good time :)

PS shhhhhh - bought some more yarn. Think this is becoming a serious issue.......actually if I'm honest I was taken to buy the yarn by Himself (bless him) so I could finish my hat, pictures later.

Night all - time to go to bed, already sent the zombies boys upstairs, putting the chrimbly tree away can wait another day.
zzzzzzzzzzzz

Guess what I have?!

I have my own *LYS!!

Oh the envy I have felt over the years of reading other bloggers bragging about their lys.

Lys this and lys that....yadda yadda yadda.

Now - I have one.... less than 100 yards from where I work. 

Bliss.

Only thing is - I have had such a dreadful lurgy that I've not had the energy to lift my knitting needles, however I did manage to buy some yarn (for medicinal purposes you understand).....

*lys - Local Yarn Store

Progress....

....is slow.

Not through lack of inspiration or ability, just time and 'omphff' are missing. I have good intentions all day and plan to to get on with some knitty-pleasure only to wilt on the settee and stare glazed across the room once I get home from work.

I have toyed with the idea of taking my knitting to work but still working up to that one!

But, when I do get the time - even for a row or two, I enjoy the escape, the rhythmic click of the needles and the slow progress.

I am not going to do a 'To Do' list this year, I have too much going on, but I am going to do a 'de-clutter challenge' and a 'Don't Do' list.

I've already started on the de-clutter challenge and have filled 3 large bags - just need to take down to the charity shop - I would like to re-home, recycle or throw out something every week until I feel that we are not drowning in 'stuff'.

As for my 'Don't do' list I am going to add - don't stay up too late!! (I am a terrible procrastinator when it comes to a good bedtime routine.....yawn)


What are you creating at the moment?
What is on your needles?
Is it flying off or hanging around waiting waiting waiting...
And for the new year? Any challenges or targets you have set yourselves?

Have a good Wednesday xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

A new day.

Welcome 2013.
For us it came with a quiet whisper rather than a bang - just like we like it.

I was working New Year's Eve during a biblical proportioned deluge. Clattering hail almost deafening us, making communication virtually impossible.
Driving home was interesting.
Huge transitionary fords dashed across the road from one saturated field to another. Columns of cars were halted as drivers cautiously went through these fast flowing waters. Through the dusk I could make out flooded fields and swollen rivers and at one point the River Ribble had burst it's banks and the lapping edges were tickling the margins of the road.

I was glad to get home.

This afternoon we were needing to get out and get some fresh air - despite the weather we set off. Clouds whirled around and icy sharp rain stung our cheeks. We battled up the lane with our heads down. Himself and I caught each other eye - time to turn back.

Back in the car we drank tea and nibbled shortbread as we looked at the flooded valley.

An invigorating winter's walk

A post-chrimble-prandial walk was called for today. The weather has kept us indoors far longer than we liked.

'By 'eck it were fresh.....' I think the rain went in one ear and out the other at one point.

We walked up to our local grounds where there is a sizeable lake across the football fields. It has steadily grown larger over the last few weeks and it won't be long before it will start to have tides..... How the local footie teams have carried on playing I have no idea.

We eventually blew home and recovered with mugs of tea. 

Despite the enforced battening down of the hatches, we have been busy one way or another.

Turning our chrimbly cards into gift tags for next year. This year has been the first ever that I've not done it - Eldest offered and created a huge pile of tags. He did a really good job too.

Before -  with just the back of the card removed

After - one card making 3 very different tags

I've been playing with some of my chrimbly pressies - a yarn bowl from a colleague (a leaving gift) and yarn from my fav-sis-in-law. 

Lovin' it!

Our chrimbly was a lovely quiet family orientated one. 

I'll end here, got things to finish and the washing up to do, early start tomorrow - I'm the only one working New Year's Eve - my three boys are still off!

So NOT Fair!!

Thinking of you all

I wish you and your loved ones abundant peace and harmony.

I hope you enjoy your festive break how you wish and with whom you wish.

Meri Kurisumasu 

Hien Gaushing Shengdanjye

Maligayang Pasko 

Joyeuese Noel 

Buon Natale 

Feliz Nativadad

Geseende Kersfees 

Frohe Wiehenacht

Gleðileg jól

Blessings

23....walking in Wycoller

23.
23rd December.
Chrimbly day is overmorrow (love that word)

S'funny what you see when you are walking.......wonder why there is a painted number on the tar?

********************************

We needed to get out and get some air, after a week of rain, work and school we all felt a little stir crazy. Every year I write cards for friends in the village and we then set off walking and deliver them. So today, we did that, only we extended the walk to include the villages of Winewall, Cottontree and Wycoller.

It was a super muddy blustery walk. It was just what we needed.

When we finally got back we stripped off our muddy leggings and boots and put on the kettle and reached for the mince pies - what a good way to end a wintery walking day.

22 and our solstice celebrations

We normally try to celebrate winter solstice on the 21st, but this year with one thing or another we delayed it to tonight.

Himself and I have spent a happy afternoon and early evening cooking and chatting while the boys wrapped gifts.

I tried with the boys help, to make a 22 for today's number but despite the repeated tries, the giggles and me trying to fine tune my camera - we came up with this.....

Himself had seen only a night or two ago Jamie Oliver's Best ever mince pies and was inspired. They were delicious - I was so so impressed. 

And, 

they are were so so yum!

20 - 21

Ooops - guess what I didn't do last night!
So here is a bit of a catch up session.

Yesterday, as I left work, I was buffeted and blown across the car park. I'd pulled my hood down square over my eyes to keep off the ice-cold rain only to have the wind catch the hood, flip it backwards, exposing my head to squally showers and dashing my hair into my eyes. Within two steps the wind 'kindly' replaced my hood back onto my head - dumping a load of captured rain water down the back of my head and neck - gee thanks..... I think....

In the car, fingers gripping the steering wheel I aqua-planed home with the rest of the traffic. Windscreen wipers working frantically and the demister on full to try and keep some form of visibility.

What a relief to be home.


It was our knit and natter festive get together last night, there was much jollity and nibbling going on. We did our secret santa, each secreting a present into a bag but leaving a wool and bead 'tail' sticking out. We then went and chose a tail, pulling out a gift.

I did really well getting two delicious balls of Silenzio Color. Now need the time to make something with them, I think I spent a fair bit of the evening fondling them - oops.

For my contribution I'd knitted a scarf ages ago leaving me nearly bursting with the need to post the photos but as it had to remain a secret I had really button my lip!

The cutest secret santa pressie had to be a box full of crochet owl tree ornaments.....

......crocheted by a 15 year old! Aren't they so cute! I love the silly expressions they have :)

Another lovely secret santa pressie (which had been made in an afternoon!) was this cable knitted cushion - it was so soft.

There were other pressies, but I didn't get any photos! Sorry! It was a lovely evening with lovely friends and family - I am very very lucky xx

♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

20.

21. 

Winter Solstice.

The turning of the seasons.

The return of the sun.

The beginning.

New.

Blessings.