Wednesday 21 November 2012

Be careful what you wish for!

I was going to show a couple of photos of what greeted me when I opened the curtains this morning but apparently I have used up all my alloted photo storage space and must make arrangements if I want more, so sorry, but no pics until then.

After a few very wet days and more rain overnight we woke to find what closely resembled a small stream along the back of the house.   Now I have always dreamed of having a house with a little stream flowing through the garden but when I looked out onto murky water all over the patio and into the border it wasn't quite what I'd had in mind.  There are puddles in places where I have never seen puddles before.

It is almost mid-day and I've only just been able to do without the light on, but the clouds seem to have lifted and I do believe it has stopped raining at last.   If there is one mention of drought or hosepipe bans next year I shall laugh.

Tuesday 20 November 2012

I'm still here!

I have resorted to good old knitting while I try to come up with an innovative textile idea for my next project.   Inspiration is in short supply so I might have to start another cardigan and have seen some gorgeous yarn but it is very expensive and I would be so disappointed if the garment didn't fit or suit me when I'd finished it.  I could always unpick and reknit of course.   We will see if temptation gets the better of me.
I am knitting these socks for someone who is very disabled with MS and doesn't wear shoes any more but needs to keep her feet warm.   I love the instant cheat's Fair Isle pattern which appears - pity it only works on short rows.
This is another colourway of the wool used in the picture above - I seem to have blurred it and apologise for not noticing sooner.    I have never made socks on two needles before and it seems rather strange.  I prefer the four needle method but couldn't find a pattern and was too impatient to start work to look very far.

It's very wet and grey today so no gardening although, goodness knows, there is plenty to tidy up out there.   I'm sure it will wait for me.

Saturday 10 November 2012

Lest we Forget.

Take up your quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
the torch;  be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
we shall not sleep, though poppies grow
in Flanders fields.

John McCrae.

Sunday 4 November 2012

All better this morning!

We had a little visitor yesterday and overnight.   Last night was very noisy with ever louder fireworks and poor Poppy was a quivering, panting nervous wreck.   However, as you can see from the above photo, this morning she is bright eyed and ready for anything again.  It does seem as if the bangs get louder each year, or is it just my imagination?   Someone is bound to have some fireworks tonight and we haven't even got to Nov 5th yet.  At least she will be back home with her mum and dad by then, and maybe won't mind the noise so much.

When I took her out for a walk this morning, the state of the paths was like this and it reminded me of when I was a schoolgirl.   At this time of year with all the wet leaves lying on the road, the buses had difficulty in getting up the hill to the village where I lived.   There was a nasty little bend just where the incline was steepest, and on more than one occassion most of the passengers were asked to get off the bus and walk to the top of the slope in the hope that the driver could get the wheels to grip the road and we could all get on again and continue our journey.    I remember one particular day when several of the strongest passengers went to the back of the bus and had to give it a push to get it moving again!   Just one of the joys of living in the country.   Most of us thought it was a great fun, but I dare say that Health and Safety wouldn't allow such frivolity these days.