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Hello folks!

Today has been a bright sunny day, a break from all the driving rain.

To start off today here's some pictures of a Blue Tit taken with our lovely SLR camera.  Mr Clicky and me treated ourselves to a new lens at Christmas.  I put this nut feeder near the kitchen window and waited, these pictures were taken with a quick fire shutter.  The Blue Tit was very industrious.

Mr Clicky left for Vienna and the Czech Republic early this morning on a business trip.  He'll be away all week, which is probably just as well because the last time I saw my car it was up on a ramp at the local garage.  It's juddering, whining and producing odd smells.  Whilst it's having a short holiday at the garage, I can use Mr Clicky's car to get to work.  I hope it's ok.

The dog and me went for a walk in today's sunshine which was lovely and when I got back I lit the fire.  I resisted the temptation to sit down in front of it, and, with Mr Clicky away I tidied the study, pottered around, got the duster out, (Two weeks in a row.  I know.) had a hoover and a bit of me time.   This has made me most content. 

Something else making me happy, a bargainous bunch of £15.00 flowers reduced to £4.50.  They are lovely.

My Temari Cardi is coming along a pace, thanks for your lovely comments on it last week.

And lastly a finished thing.

Puff Daddy footstool.  

The pattern is here, if you're interested.  Just a rectangle of garter stitch, I used Hoooked Zpagetti which is t-shirt yarn and 12mm needles.  Dead easy knitting which I completed last May.  Stuffing proved little more tricksy but eventually I plumped on a large polyester pillow with a single basic quilt wrapped around the outside.  Me and Mr Clicky man-handled it into the pouch and then I laced up the bottom.  Phew!

 Master Clicky and the dog modelling.

 That's about it I think, Mr Clicky back on Friday so a quiet week for me.

Have a great week.

See you soon..............Clicky Needles.

Who'd Have Thought It?

Hello Folks!

Well, it turns out that if you put the iPad down, play less games which are entertaining and fun but suck time into a never ending time vortex, stop oohing and aaahing over beautiful grey cabled jumpers on Pinterest and then try to find the patterns on Ravelry and getting lost for several hours there,  you can actually get some knitting done.

Saturday and Sunday morning this week have seen me having a cup of tea in bed (brought by Mr CN) and some Temari Cardi knitting.  I was also greeted by a very excited dog.

In days gone by it would have been two little children chucking a book at us and demanding a story.  Sometimes they'd climb in, snuggle down and before we knew it, be asleep again.  Aaaaaaahhhhhhhh.

That was nearly fifteen years ago.  Master Clicky (smaller one of the two)  has just picked up his Christmas bike.  He's used saved money and we put some in too.  He now has legs longer than Mr Clicky and towers over me.  It is  impossible to get him up in the morning.  Miss Clicky is  getting University offers.

Where did that time go?

Not that I'm complaining you understand, but if your children are little and cute, savour them.  Time will go.  Fast.  

My Saturday morning (after I'd had a second cup of tea in bed) was spent moving a load of wood.

It was a lovely sunny day, almost springlike.  I did try to get Master Clicky to lend a hand but the bike ("did you know the spokes are made in Switzerland?") proved too alluring.  The stack always seems to be neater on the bottom!  Anyhoo a job done.  

And so, back to knitting.  A really nice pattern, top down and then into some really easy cables which I'm doing without a cable needle.  Rubbish pictures I'm afraid, today is nothing like the sunny day yesterday, we've had low wet cloud and dingyness all day.

I'm rather enjoying knitting again.

Righto, I'm off to do the ironing, not such a mountain today but still quite a lot.

Bye for now.

Have fun..........................Clicky Needles.

A Happy New Year To You!!!!!!!!!

Hello All!

Well, all the decorations have come down.  This was a two day job as I decorate virtually every room.  The Christmas Tree was left for one night with just lights on, I took them off this morning and packed them away in the decoration box(es) and they were stowed in the attic by Mr and Master Clicky.  

 Mr Clicky and me took the tree to the recycling skip provided by the council, as there wasn't much room left so we had to leave it by the side.

As much as I hate taking the decorations down, the furniture can be put back how it was and I even wielded as duster (I know!) for a bit.  We had a good clear out in Master Clicky's room and sorted out old toys and games that he didn't want.  Lots of things have gone to a local Charity Shop, although some things (train set, toy farm) have been shoved in the attic too.  Mr Clicky tells me we need to board it out some more as we're running out of usable space.

Master Clicky has been making a model of a Vulcan he got from Granny Clicky.  I did point out to him that the Avro Vulcan production line was probably tidier than his, but he just laughed and didn't take the hint to tidy it a bit.  An Airfix model has become a Christmas tradition for him.  It keeps him occupied for a couple of days; he wants this model hanging from his ceiling.

Unfortunately the mess meant I couldn't  enjoy my Christmas table, here it is ready on Christmas Day.

The dog has enjoyed us all being at home and getting lots of attention although I couldn't find him the other morning.  I  searched the whole house eventually stopping in Master Clicky's room.

Can you see him?

 No!  Look again.

 Sneaky.

I've had a lovely two weeks off, and used to the time catch up on everyone's blogs and different Christmas celebrations around the world, it's been a big party.   I've also been having a good think what I'm aiming to do in 2014. 

Bloggy things:

 I've decided to join in with the Photo Scavenger Hunt again, run by Greenthumb.  I didn't last the whole year in 2013 and I am going to try harder.

Get back with Monthly Mosaics.

Blog every week and not get behind.

(These are pretty much last year's ~ oh dear!)

Knitty things:

Try continental knitting ~ I said this last year, not managed that yet.

Spend less time on the iPad and more time knitting.

Righto I must go as I have a pile of ironing the size of Everest to do and it's back to school tomorrow.

As always, have fun.............Clicky Needles.

Simply Having a Wonderful Christmas Time

Hello Folks!

I hope you had a wonderful Christmas.  

We spent Christmas Day at home, just the four of us.  Christmas is a little less exciting than it used to be, with our two not being little anymore and we got up at a civilised 8 o'clock.   I can still enjoy the excitement at school, wearing tinsel in my hair and covering myself in glitter but at home it's a bit more subdued than it used to be.

Our little Nativity set still comes out with a rogue llama loitering in the background. 

We had roast lamb for Christmas lunch, we're not that wild on turkey and steamed syrup pudding to follow, as we're not wild on Christmas Pud either!   I drank lots of pink fizz ~ in the background Master Clicky's best present, an elastic band ball!  We had a nice together time and then Miss Clicky went to spend the evening with her boyfriend's family.

I had the usual manner of presents from the children in my class, candles, soaps and chocolates which are always gratefully received.  I also was given some Christmas Tea which is new for me.  I can only describe it as tea crossed with mulled wine, a cup a day is enough for me.  

My Mum and Dad gave me this lovely sheep, at the moment she's sitting in front of the wood basket keeping a beady eye on us.

This was the first Christmas that Tipper has spent with us.  He had to sniff every one of our presents as we opened them and of course, he had a few of his own which he was very good at unwrapping.  He had a new tuggy which had a ball attached but that was chewed off within a few hours.  It's the one under his paw and he's not giving it up!

With more time on my hands I have been knitting a bit more.

My Delightful Mix and Match Socks are coming along nicely.      No two will be the same. 

There are three rows of each colour ~ the background at the moment is either pale green or shades of grey.  Despite the fact that the yarn ~ Drops Delight ~ goes a bit thick and thin, it's very soft and fluffy, perfect for cosy socks.

I'm loving the stripes so much.

 

I've been cutting the colours to make them work better, there was no way I was going to have this scrummy purple going up my leg where it wasn't going to be seen.  The purple and green is giving me heart skippy moments ~ I consider myself a down-to-earth sort of girl but it really is making me swoon.   

 Righto I must be off now, I need to make a chocolate log for lunch at my Mum and Dad's tomorrow.

See you soon.

Have fun.............................Clicky Needles.

Christmas is Here

Hello All.

I seem to have taken a completely unintentional blogging break.  December has raced past and school has been full on.  I've been dozing off on the sofa most evenings and *shock, horror* too tired to knit.

So what have I been doing?

My birthday has come and gone.  

My Mum brought me this beautiful Burleigh Calico jug to go with my one and only dinner plate.

I love it.  Thanks Mum!

Mr Clicky, me, Master Clicky and Grandad Clicky went to Kingsholm rugby ground to watch Gloucester play Worcester Warriors. 

The match was delayed by half an hour because the crossbar on the opposite post had been dislodged by a giant inflatable rugby ball in the pre-match fun.

 As we all like a beefy bloke here's some piccies.

We were right under the posts at the front.  Worcester getting ready to a kick a penalty  ~ No 12 on the right under the posts is Mike Tindall.

A bit more man on man action.

Penalty kick coming straight for us.

Selfie of me and Mr Clicky. 

 Even though Gloucester won it wasn't the most exciting match.

I took part in the Christmas Decoration Swap run by Ladybird Diaries.  I swapped with Hannapat of Cosmos and Cotton.  I received a lovely parcel.. 

 

..with some lovely decorations inside.  Thanks so much Hannapat!

The Christmas Decorating has gone well.

The Christmas Tree came from the school field again this year, so nice and fresh.  Unfortunately the trees are getting quite big now, so I'm not sure about next year's.

We also have a swag up the stairs and baubles hanging from the bannisters.  (Excuse the paint sample on the wall!)

I

I found some lovely stainless steel snowflake decorations in Sainsbury's.

As it turns out they are just the right size for a Christmassy coaster.

And finally the only bit of knitting I've done in December, a cowl for work's Secret Santa Swap.

Made in Jarol Sweet Briar Chunky I had left over from something else. 

 So that's about it from me, don't forget to follow Santa with Norad's Santa Tracker as I write he's already started in Australia.  

I'm off to paint my nails, lay the table and scatter glitter all over my black kitchen tiles.

Have a wonderful Christmas.

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

Stripy Socks

Hi there!

Time seems to be marching on relentlessly, November is over!  I seem to have been caught out, maybe because it's not got cold.  

Our trip to France had some ups and downs but on the whole it was good fun.

I got loads of sock knitting done, not being a driver on this trip.  I have started to use the Drops Delight Sock Yarn I bought at Ally Pally.

I'm using two colours, a neutral tone and a colour to make stripy socks.

The green tones were on the journey down.....

.... and on the return journey I'd finished the green one and  progressed on a much brighter colour way.

I love the colours in this.

 I'd forgotten how addictive sock knitting can be, I keep doing one more row for the next colour stripe.

We're going to be hitting Christmas with a vengeance at school this week.  We're decorating the classrooms and I'm donning my wellies and going onto the school field with a saw to cut a Christmas tree for the entrance into our classroom area.  Christmas songs can be heard through the classrooms from the younger children practising hard for their nativity play.

Lastly I'll leave you with a  picture of Tipper.  Mr Clicky had to see one of the neighbours, Tipper sat on the stairs so he was the right height to see through the window when Mr Clicky came back.  I'm not sure he looks comfy!

So that's me for today, I'll see you again soon. 

As always have fun........Clicky Needles.