Knitting and Nature

My Mother has taken a fancy to a Kidsilk Haze scarf, which I made for myself last year. So, to keep the peace, a mist grey scarf is taking shape. The yarn is Patons Misty. The pattern is feather and fan, on 4.5mm needles. It is knitting up remarkably swiftly.

This lovely button is handmade ceramic, and was bought at Fiddlesticks, Honiton, to go on

this waistcoat, the yarn for which also comes from Fiddlesticks. The pattern came free! It was my big entry in the Ravelympics -Sweaterboard cross. I managed to complete yesterday, so have crossed the finish line.

I have been awaiting the first frogspawn in our pond, or one of the ditches , with increasing concern. I expected delay, obviously, with all the hard weather, but we have had a couple of weeks without frost. Today, a dramatic improvement. At least two dozen deposits of spawn, in several locations. Fresh Otter spraint ( first for a few weeks), the Bees have been out foraging in squadrons, and fresh Deer slots through the garden. Now I just need to spot some Newts.
Babur hates cold/wet/windy weather. He knows that he can depend on his humans to make sure the fire is banked up, and leave him comfortable.

Good! (I think)

I am taking part in the Winter Ravelympics, and I have a medal.....for frogging!

I have worked very hard on this sweater, but despite re-doing the sleeves three times, I cannot make it work. Mainly because I do not have enough yarn. By about 20g. I did not realise that the balls were 20g, not 25g, until I was doing the sleeves.Anyway, on the fourth attempt, I unravelled the lot.

Like that! Quite cathartic.
And I may frog my burnt red, kidsilk, Myrtle leaf Scarf, too! Well, I'll think about it.

With Love.....

To friends, family and readers. x

...Spring

Imbolc. The first day of Spring. The day the Goddess returns to the Earth from her sojourn in the Otherworld.
Last year, the snowdrops were already out. Sheets of them, making pools of light beneath trees, in gardens and orchards. This year, I have found only a few. Mainly tiny green spears, with white just beginning to show on their tips. The seasons' growth has been held back considerably by the hard weather. Still, I am grateful for a few blossoms -thus I can greet the spring.

Nearly....

It snowed again last night. Not much. Just the barest covering. It meant, though, that I was able to see where the deer had browsed, in the cover at the edge of the wood. An otter had been through the garden, too. His/her footprints showed up , backing up the evidence of the spraint on the marking stone.
All of these things, I noticed as I walked Poppy. Then we went indoors, and made up the fires, my hands raw from the cold.
It's nearly Spring.

(Above, Helleborous orientalis, near my back door.30/1/2010)

Jolly Birthday Mitts

A birthday present for a dear friend. I couldn't show them until they had been unwrapped by the recipient. N. seemed delighted with them- A bit of jollity in these dank, dark days.
The pattern is from 'Kristin Knits', but with extended thumbs. Yarn is odds, and part balls, of Jaeger D.K.
I am winding 100gram skeins into balls, at the moment. Undyed (natural) fawn, pure alpaca, aran weight. I bought nine skeins last summer at Coldharbour Mill, and intend to make a Jean Moss cardigan. The style is quite short, fitted, with a shawl collar. I can't remember the last time a made a sweater or cardi for myself.

More winter baking.

I do find that this wintery weather brings out the baker in me. These Chelsea Buns were made to a standard recipe. (Elizabeth David.) The filling is cinnamon butter, and then sprinkled with the zest of a lemon. Bake as usual, then when cool, drizzle with icing made with the juice of aforementioned lemon. The recipe made thirty-five buns. Lucky that I have people around, ready to eat them for me.

These lovely little magnets were in my Yule stocking. The detail on them is quite remarkable. And they pander to my love of anything Dragon-y.