4 Weeks To Go!

Hello all!

Christmas seems to have crept up a bit on me this year.  

I think because the weather has been so mild I didn't really realise what the date is.

This time last year I was complaining about the frost and snow, but I think so far I've only had to scrape ice off the car twice!

Anyhoo in an effort to get myself feeling Christmassy I bought some magazines.

The first being a Mollie Makes.

It came with a free calendar which is always useful.

I really love this tree decoration make out of old bits of wood; window frames and the like.

They give ideas for making the decorations.....

and directions for making this wreath.  Now, I love this, but the cost of so many felt balls would be HUGE, so I'll just admire it.

 The other magazine I got was Prima Christmas Makes.

I got this last week but Lucy at Attic 24 beat me to it with the blog post!  I can only echo what she has said, there are some fabby ideas in it.

I like these cards/gift tags, simple but effective.

We shall be mainly pink again this year, so these caught my eye.

And if you are more traditional, red and white.

I popped down to B & Q today to check out their decorations.

I'm into felt at the moment.  The pink felt tree has a thread through the middle and the green tree might be an idea for school.  I only noticed it was missing a ball when I got home. :-(

All of this talk is getting me in the mood.

Right, back to other things, the crochet scarf for my teacher is finished.

It's so soft, I'm really pleased, and I've started another for me. Hehe.

On Teresa's suggestion I crocheted a flower for my jacket at Butterfly Knitters yesterday.

We had our annual clear out and sell of our yarn we didn't want.  £170 was raised for the charity which we were very pleased with.

Ok I need to go now and cook Sunday Lunch (tea).  Mr Clicky Needles tried stir frying the sprouts last week with some onion ~ fry first ~ and they were yum, so stir fried sprouts it is!

As always have a great week.

Byeeeee.................Clicky Needles.

Jacket Ta-Dah.

Hello again.

Look at my jacket!

I am soooo pleased with it.

I can honestly say I've enjoyed every stitch.

I like it fastened on the empire line, I think it looks better for my body shape.

I suppose if it's really cold I'll do it at the top.

I am pleased that my friend Romain persuaded me to go for the grey yarn, there was a lovely brambly purple and a lime green, but I think upon reflection she was right, grey goes with more.

I've worn it lots already and don't feel swamped in it, so the job's a good 'un.

After finishing that, I got my friendship squares done for this month, these are in Rowan Silk Wool, a lovely yarn to work with. 

If any of you read Northern Monkey's blog, you'll know that she announced she would not be Christmas Knitting this year.

I boldly declared Me Neither!  but whilst having a bit of a stash dive on Friday I came across these (newly acquired) balls of Rowan Wool Cotton from Romain.  

A lovely palate of colours with a ball of each.  

What to do with them?

 An idea suddenly sprung into mind.  A crochet scarf, but for whom? 

 I've got so many scarves already and do I really need another?

Ah-hah I'll give to my (new) teacher for Christmas.  And there it was.  I slipped into Christmas Knitting (crochet) without even realising.   I am loving the colours, the plum really gives the scarf depth. 

Yummy yummy.

And the best bit?

There will be enough yarn left for another scarf.

Just as well, because I was thinking I wouldn't be able to give it up.

A girl can never have too many scarves ...........

I've a few more rows to go on this one yet.

I read with much amusement today The Really Big Dream Blog.  I have mentioned J and M in the past they run this fabulous gite Les Cerisiers in Burgundy France.  J has taken up knitting and has the bug for sure, I know this because she has written " I couldn't put my knitting down and took it to friends houses, on a plane ride to the UK, to visit relatives and even to bed with me!"  I left her a comment which read "Welcome to my world."  I'm tickled pink that she's fallen hook, line and sinker.

Talking of pink, look what the postie brought me.  A lovely new pair of  (half price) ~Crocs from Rubbersole.  My old pair were 6 years old and have no grip left, so it was about time.  I know they are a Marmite thing, and I love them.  I wear them around the house everyday and they're great for going into the sea with, to ensure you don't step on any seaweed, crabs or other pointy things.  

I hope you have a good week and better weather than us last week, being 'on the top' of the Cotswolds meant we were shrouded in fog and didn't see much sky at all.  It all gets a bit depressing.

Right, a few more rows on the scarf and it's done, maybe I'll start another too......

Have fun,

Bye for now..................Clicky Needles.

DD's trip to Ethiopia

Hello there!

I've got some of DDs pictures from Ethiopia.  She arrived back very tired and a little shell shocked, but I'm pleased to report she's all ok now.

The group she went with were teaching best practice in midwifery to midwives and doctors at Awassa hospital.  They will then cascade their new found knowledge down to others.  Those little hats I made went down an storm and I will continue to make them for next year's trip.

She took part in the training sessions, witnessed an operation (!), saw some hippos on Lake Awassa, had a ride in a Tuk-tuk and explored the local region.

Some of the sights:

A market near the lake.

 Weaver bird nest in the hospital grounds.

 Sunset at Haile Gebrselassie's hotel.

Awassa Hospital.

Fishermen on the lake gutting fish.

Storks waiting for some fishy bits.

The fish, Tilapia, being cooked.

Tuk-tuk in the rain.

 A local street.

 She was so tired on the flight home, she couldn't be awoken to eat!  As I said before the weather was hot and humid and the bus journey from and to the airport bumpy and uncomfortable but she was so lucky to be given this opportunity and I'm so pleased she went.

Right, tomorrow's post will be woolier, I've finished my Woolfish Jacket.  Waaaaayyyyy!!!!!!

See you then..............Clicky Needles.

She's fine!

Hi there!

Thanks for your comments on DD's trip, we've had a very brief Facebook chat with her and all is going well.  She's missing her boyfriend (not family!!!!!) and has had been into the hospital at Awassa to see lots of different aspects of childbirth and babies.

The weather is hot and humid and she's eating fish and bread and not much else!

Anyhoo back to other things.

I met with Tickety-Boo at the Lavender Bakehouse over half term and she gave me my giveaway prize.

When the candle is lit it gives off lovely diffused light.

Thank you Tickety-Boo, it's great!

Of course I sampled something with my cup of tea, it would have been rude not to.  This meringue was yummy and huge!

On the home baking front, I made this chocolate roulade on Saturday ~ heaven!

I got my friendship squares off........

 and received these ones. 

Jacket progress was halted for a bit, with making all those little hats but I'm now back full steam ahead and I'm just on the collar ~ the last of knitting.  

Just the making up now.  I'm getting very excited and the thought of wearing it!  

Sad?  Maybe.

Ho Hum.

Bye for now........................Clicky Needles.

DD is Away.

Hello.

Yes, we got DD packed and on her way on her trip.

She's gone to Ethiopia along with the Southern Ethiopia Gwent Healthcare Link with a group of medics including my SIL and a reporter from the South Wales Argus, Martin Wade.    You can follow his twitter here if you want.

She had to have quite a few jabs ~ Yellow Fever, Typhoid and Hepatitis A + B x 3, which is not her favourite thing.    Hopefully this will be an interesting and life enhancing experience for her.  She was a bit worried.

Last Saturday evening I got a phone call from SIL asking if I could make some baby hats they could take with them.  These are for normal birthweight babies but they still need hats to keep warm.  The hats are taken into the villages and used when necessary.

I dusted off some dpns and completed the pink hat on the bottom right with some Sirdar Crofter.  I was very pleased with the result, but as it took about 3 1/2 hours to make I knew I needed a heaver weight yarn.  I then dug out some Aran and found I could make a hat in about 1 1/2 hours ~ much better!

I managed 10 in the end and I'll keep on making them through the year and either post some out to Ethiopia or they can go with next year's trip.

Reading Martin Wade's twitter, it's taken them 6 hours by bus to get from Addis Ababa to Awassa where they're staying, dodging donkeys and horse carts and they've been greeted by thunder storms.

She'll be well looked after by SIL but at 16 it'll be a big adventure so let's hope she's ok.


Whilst I'm here I would like to extend my sympathy to anyone affected by the horrific crash on the motorway in Somerset yesterday.  The pictures tell it all.

Righto, I'll be back tomorrow for a normal(ish) post.

Bye for now.................Clicky Needles.

October Mosaic

October Mosaic.

Hope you like it!

Normal Service Resumed

Hello all!

In case you've been wondering where I've been, the answer is nowhere.

Our router decided it didn't fancy working anymore so we've been without internet.

All is back to normal now thank goodness.  The amount of times I've thought this week, "I'll just check that on Ravelry.................."  

We're getting DD packed up for a trip today so I'll fill you in tomorrow.

Bye for now.................Clicky Needles.