Evening Wear

My sister, Nicky, has to attend a Gala Dinner and Dance. It is in aid of a Cancer Charity, which she is very involved in. We had looked for a shrug which was simple, smart, elegant. Then we looked for a pattern, so that I could make one, which is simple, smart, elegant. Eventually, I bought some very nice Merino 4-ply wool, from Hayes wool shop in Taunton. At the fifth attempt, I got the sleeves to fit properly.

Back view.
Front view.
Detail.(this goes all the way around).

Nick ready to go.

The photos do not show the softness of the yarn, or the lovely drape. Neither do they show the simple elegance of her dress.

The pattern is all my own work.

Lucky Girl!

I came down to breakfast on Sunday, to find Best Beloved had bought these Lily-of-the-Valley at the same time as the newspapers. The scent was wonderful - he knows I love them. I read somewhere, that it used to be traditional to give posies of these lovely flowers on Mayday, in France. I don't know if it is true, but what a super idea.

A quick visit to Coldharbour Mill, as I needed some more wool to make another cat bed. I have been asked for the pattern by several people, so will have to make another, in order to remember properly how to do it. Or rather, the stitch numbers. While I was there, I had a quick look around...and found this....

..Beautiful pure u.k.Alpaca , aran weight, natural colour, 100 gram skeins. Louisa said that they were 'specials'. John may have done them as it is Shows season. Well, what is a girl to do, when faced with yarn in her favourite fibre and colour? Before you ask, nine skeins. Should be enough for a sweater, or short cardi.

Then Monday was Milveton May Fair. It is a street fair, lots of local stalls, lots of plants, a Food Hall (in the car park!) and some street entertainers. We (B.B. and I) bought plants, and bread, and flowers. We stopped to look at a bric-a-brac stall. (Last June 10th, I wrote about a set of Masons' Blue Denmark china which I found and bought in a local charity shop). There, on the floor, was a Masons' Blue Denmark Meat Platter.What price was the stallholder asking? £1.50! I had to ask again, as I thought I had mis-heard. Yes, of course we bought it. Bargain!!

I hope you had an equally pleasant Bank holiday.

May Day

The Hawthorn is out, the Bluebells are up, the Swallows are back - it must be Summer! It is the first time ever, that our Hawthorn has been in bloom on the first day of May, the first day of Summer. It usually opens between the sixth , and the tenth of the month.

Do you remember the forlorn picture of Babur, sitting in his new bed, but unable to lie down? Here he is, in his new, modified version. I finished it on Tuesday. He slept in it all night, Wednesday, once he had decided it wasn't dangerous.

It is Close Knit, tonight. Knitting with a group of female friends, eating cake and drinking tea, on Mayday. What makes it more perfect, is that we celebrate Close Knits' second birthday, tonight.Great fun.
This is my own, new, recipie for a sweet fruited celebration bread. I shall see how it is recieved. If the girls enjoy it, I may post the instructions.

Aaaaah.

I had to visit someone, on Friday. He showed me these dear little lambs. They are known as Badger Faced Sheep. I couldn't resist taking a photo.

Blossom Time

I have to admit to becoming a little dizzy with joy, when blossom time comes around. At the moment, the woods have great swathes of white running through the canopy, as though some huge being had dropped her gauzy veil, while running through the trees.

This first blossom is Apple.Malus sylvestris. The major part of our Orchard.

This is Blackthorn. Also known as Sloe. Prunus spinosa. We planted a lot in the hedges, and scattered some along the edges of the wood.

Cherry. This is the cultivated form, Prunus avium. We also planted the wild cherry, Prunus padus, in the woods.

And finally, Pear. Pyrus communis. I think it is 'Barrone d'Mello', but cannot be sure. We started off with eight pears, but lost them for various reasons. Deer, vandalism, flood. They are also very tender in our particular location.

The Medlar, Quince, and Damson all have buds, but are a bit shy of flowering just yet. The Plum has been and gone.

Shopping

Oh, dear. It's that time of the year again. Which time? Well, plant sale time, of course.

This particular sale was by the Hardy Plant Society, at Monkton Heathfield village hall. As you can see, I bought a few things. Some Primroses, from the charity stall, for the woodland. Pulmonaria 'sissinghurst white', and a large-flowered white Viola, from a charming chap, whose name I have forgotten. An Arum italicum 'majorca' and a snowdrop list from Ros, of Beggars Roost Plants, and two Smilacina majalis from Joyce, the name of whose nusrsery I have also forgot.This is the single surviving Pear, which we put in at the same time as the rest of the orchard.It is the first time it has had any noticable amount of blossom. I don't like threatening my trees, but it seems to have worked!
I am still knitting! Another attempt at a bed for Babur. A lace scarf in Kidsilk Haze. An evening shrug for Nick , and the continuing saga of the Aran cardigan.

Delightful!!

Quick, go and look at the Video of Goats on Devon Fine Fibres. I defy you to keep a straight face at the antics of the little black Kid. (Just click on the name, on the side bar).