Zoë's Knitting Bag

Norfolk by Nikon

The cold yet very, very bright weather was just right for a field trip with my new toy.  I left it until early afternoon to experiment.  It would be nice to know what you think.

Firstly, a view across the Harbour's Mouth:

Then on to the castle at West Caister:

Such a fantastic photo location.  You can read more about this castle here. So I took lots of snaps here.

A group of trees close by:

Taken again with a different filter:

 

Another little drive and on to Rollesby Broad:

Then the birds took flight:

Just time to visit Rollesby Church:

I so love this lantern shot.

All comments are really appreciated.  Enjoy the rest of the weekend.

Night Sky

I collected my new beautiful Nikon on Saturday and played around with it for only a short time in the evening.  Oh how I was looking forward to using it Sunday but, no it was not to be!  I was struck down with food poisoning probably picked up by a hastily grabbed prawn sarnie from a petrol station en route to the city.  It's put me off prawns for a long time.  This weekend I am hoping for dry weather to get out and about and take a few more shots.  This model comes highly recommended and all has turned out better than I thought.

The One About My New Camera!

Oh my word what a disappointed gal am I?  I've had a very bad experience with my new camera.  The story in brief was that DH bought me a Nikon D3100 with lens kit for Christmas.  Well actually he gave me the money and I scoured websites and shops throughout the whole of East Anglia until I finally found one in a well known camera store in Norwich.  It was one of only two left throughout the whole of our area.  This was due to the flooding of the factory in Thailand where Nikon now manufacture most of their cameras.  I couldn't wait to start using it on Boxing Day and even received a camera guide from Amazon to start learning to use to manual settings.  I go back to the 80s when I was the proud owner of the Nikon EM 35mm SLR film camera which I received from Mum and Dad for Christmas 1980 and then a telephoto lens and flash for my 21st a few days later in January. So I know a bit about F stops, ISO and depth of field and finally thought it was time to move on from my D40 and be more ambitious with the D3100. 

This was never to be!  I struggled and struggled with the new camera and read and re-read the guide book.  What the hell was going on?  All the photos were either out of focus and over exposed or both.  What was I doing wrong(nothing so it turned out)? It wouldn't even take a decent photo on auto. I asked my nephew for advice.  He is an excellent photographer and has all the kit and caboodle including the fabulous Nikon D7000.  He had a look at my camera for me yesterday and to cut a long story short we found that the lens was disintegrating internally with damaged aperture hinges falling out. OMG, I rang the camera shop and they agreed without any quibble to exchange the lens today and check the camera body for damage.  To cut an even longer story short,  aperture hinges had entered the camera body and what with a poor mirror cleaning experience (YIKES!) at said shop I came away with a full refund!!!!!  Needless to say the shop manager and staff were very kind and helpful - they just didn't really have a clue. 

I rang Nikon who cannot give me a date on when the D3100 or even D5100 will be back in stock as there are still on going problems with their Thailand factory.  Apparently, the whole of Europe are out of stock.  Oh well I will just have to wait! Somehow it feels a bit better to tell this story here.  After over 30 years with Nikon, I've never had such a bad experience.

Biscuits for my Bday!

Yesterday, I came home to some lovely biscuits made by Sophie (just a few of which can be seen here).  I spent the day with a friend who I have known since we were five years old.  We went out for lunch at a country pub and en route to her house along remote country lanes I had to wait for a tractor to clear a fallen tree.  It has been very windy and blustery here.

I have been very lucky with my Birthday gifts today (hopefully I will be able to show some soon when I sort out the new camera settings)! Sophie has gone back to Zummerzet this evening but we had a great time in the city and lunch at Wagamamas.  For me it's back to work and reality tomorrow.

Last Day of the Year

Today we went to Blakeney Quay and lunched at the fabulous Blakeney Hotel.  The staff were very welcoming and I had not been there since the refurbishment.  We were treated to lunch by DS and enjoyed the new furnishings and roaring log fire. The staff gave us gingerbread men on ribbons and diaries and even printed a tide table for my Dad for January 2012. After a short walk along the quay we went on to Holt for a little wander.  The intention was originally to go to Walsingham (England's Nazareth) to light a candle and take photos with the new camera but, my Dad came along and plans sort of changed.  I have a lot more reading and practice to do to get used to the manual settings and RAW images but hopefully I will have time in the New Year.  DS is out with friends and DD has gone to Essex to spend New year with a Uni friend.  We are struggling to keep awake to see in 2012 but hopefully with a second Tequila Sunrise (oh the memories of the 80s!!!), this may do the trick.  Happy New Year! I've just put a few coins on the window cills to keep up with family tradition. It is something that my Dad still does and I think it is supposed to bring good luck and prosperity for the coming year.  Does anyone else still do this?

A Very Merry Christmas to one and all

 

I collected my door garland just before my trip to the hairdressers on Thursday.  I had another bob in the Spring but am now growing it out.  After 3 and a half hours in the salon and with the help of a few more blonde foils and roots done, I am still keeping those pesky silver foxes at bay!  The look was finished by using the hair straighteners to create a few waves.  But after only an hour it was already dropping and yes I am wearing my beloved dressing gown. There's nothing quite like it for warmth and comfort on these dark, cold nights.  We've even had a few snow flurries this weekend.

 

I'm busy crocheting these little baubles onto white cotton to make several garlands for around the house as inspired by Wood & Wool Stool. Much nicer than threading 100 tree hooks on 100 tiny baubles and hanging on branches or much easier for my dodgy thumb.

Also, today I attempted a biscuit fir tree with my new Lakeland cutters.  I definitely needed to use double the cookie dough Nigella recipe and to use a thicker icing.  Here is my somewhat stunted tree! Tasted good though.

I've loads of present wrapping to do, cleaning and still some presents to buy.  The good thing is I am on holiday now until 28th but the bad thing is I think I am coming down with another cold.  Jamie and Sophie are home later this week with a brief visit from Jamie's girlfriend and then my sister is here on Christmas Eve.  Oh and I've signed up for the improver's patchwork.  Just watching Michael Bubble on telly (Dawn French looks fantastic) and tomorrow the brilliant Goo Goo Dolls are on the Late, Late Show.  Hope to watch it on the net.  Love John Rzeznik - what a voice, writer and face. I leave you with my favourtie song ever, Iris.

 

By The Pricking Of My Thumbs*

Well not quite but definitely my middle right finger - no one told me that quilting would hurt so much.  I am persevering with a Clover thimble but it sort of slows you down.  But anyway after a lovely weekend with DD arriving home on Friday evening.  We celebrated DH's 50th with a lovely meal on Saturday and then did some Christmas shopping on Sunday with my Dad.  Sophie then went back to Zummerzet on Sunday afternoon.  On the way here the trains were 50 minutes late due to problems on the track and on the way back via London there were major problems on the Tube.  Poor Sophie always seems to have bad luck with trains.

Today Alfie had his annual grooming session at his doggy salon.  These are the same girls that have been grooming my dogs past and present since 1986.  The place is remote and in a beautiful setting and the photo above was taken nearby.  It was only 2.45 pm. 

Then on the way home it brightened up for a moment.  Alfie can be seen peeking out of the back of my car Lily.  He does have quite a bit of room with the back seats down and has a comfy blanket to lie on.  He was, apparently, very well behaved.  I think this might be because I have showered and blow dried him regularly since he was a puppy.

I must dash as I am  meeting some friends to do some late night Christmas shopping.

* I've always wanted to use this Agatha Christie favourite as a blog post title!!!

Patchwork

This is the one of the reasons for my prolonged absence from this space.  My patchwork is pinned and ready for quilting.(Photo taken at class).  All done by hand and with many mistakes but I am pleased with my efforts.  So on to the hand quilting and then in the last week of the course we will be shown how to do the binding. 

Another reason is that I just feel that I don't always have anything interesting or different to say.  After over 5 years of blogging, it just seems to get harder.  My life is pretty ordinary, although I am not complaining at all.

 

The photo was taken in poor light so I will try to take a better photo once the quilting has been started.

 

My time has been taken up with work, walks on the beach to see the seal colony at a nearby beach (dogs only allowed from the safety of the cliffs).  I have seen the latest Twilight film which was enjoyable but extremely upsetting in another way.  I've also been suffering with a bad cold and a pro longed cough which is now almost gone. 

 

The crochet front has been non-existant as I have lost my mo-jo for this at the moment.  I have done some chunky knitting which I will show another time.  I asked Helen in Scotland to make me some cashmere wristwarmers and Fairisle fingerless gloves.  I do not feel ready to use dpns just yet as my thumb may play up again.  These little wristwarmers are very warm and so soft.

This weekend we will have Sophie home for a flying visit as DH will join the 50s club on Wednesday!

I leave you with a photo of Alfie taken this morning on a chilly but bright day.  I was also able to get up very close and was allowed a little peep of a baby seal who was in the care of the RSPCA.  Also, a wildlife group were on the sea wall looking for Snow Bunting and stopped to ask me if I had seen any on my walk.  The answer was sadly, "no".

Rough Seas

This snap was taken yesterday with my phone camera.  Today the seas were much rougher. Oh how the wind was blowing and the sea was ferocious and racing towards us.  It had to be the day that I forgot my scarf.

We now walk on a route in our own village as this means that I can let Alfie straight out of the back of the car in a safe environment and this involves no lead pulling in his desperate flight to the beach and the sea!  This has certainly helped my arm heal and has also introduced us to new doggy friends and their human companions.  I do miss the wilderness of the other area though and may have to venture back there soon.

He loves that giant pink tennis ball.

I've not had much time to post here as there has been so much to do. Sadly, a funeral for the mum of a very good friend who I have known since we were 5.  Although this was a sad time it was also nice to catch up with other childhood friends after such a long time.

 

On a more happier note, we have an 80th  for DH's mum on Saturday. She has recovered so well from her stroke but her leg is very poorly now. Also, a very exciting Halloween Party at my sister's on Sunday.  I have my costume all planned and Jamie is coming home from London on Friday evening but, unfortunately Sophie cannot make it due to dance commitments.  I am providing two of the party games one of which is my now famous pass-the-parcel and the other is a bit of a surprise. 

Patchwork has taken over from crochet and knitting at the moment and I have a very complicated Drunkard's Path one to attempt today.  Here are the photos of the two completed ones.  The first is called Churn Dash and the second Ohio Star.  I think my fabric is by Kaffe Fasset and I bought this in from a lovely shop in Bath.  All of the cutting and sewing is done by hand.  I am enjoying this and once I have been taught how to do the sashing, binding and quilting I am planning a simple quilt in Liberty fabric all done in squares to be sewn completely by hand.  Well that is the plan for 2012!  We'll have to see how this sampler one ends up. 

 

Please don't look too closely at my points! Remember I am a beginner and they do need a further pressing.

Meanwhile the Lily car throw continues to grow slowly but surely.  DH actually said yesterday that he likes this and that I should make it a decent size to be used in the house.  Oh goody I may just have to give Jamieson's another ring for some further supplies.  I must say this is my favourite blanket so far.

Please let me know your thoughts on whether I should make it bigger.  I orginally planned on 10 x 8 sunflowers but am now thinking 20 x 16! 

Here's a shot of it outside:

Thank you for your very much appreciated comments and thoughts on my return post.  It is so nice to know that people are still popping by here. 

My Autumnal Return

I have been absent from my blog for much longer than was my intention.  Unfortunately, this was beyond my control. I have been rather poorly with chronic shoulder pain which may have been due to the now confirmed (by X ray) osteoarthritis in my left thumb joint.  It may have been made worse by my dog Alfie pulling my arm whilst still on his lead and also carrying picnic bags etc down to the long trek to the beach huts at Wells beach on the August bank holiday weekend.  Also, driving over a thousand miles taking Sophie to Somerset, north Norfolk and London and back over the summer hols.

I was told to have complete rest: no crochet, knitting, driving, dog walking etc.  I am seeing the physiotherapist and have to wear a thumb "spike" which seems to help.  I am gradually getting back to normal, the pain is under control and I am back at work and able and now allowed to do a little craft work.  Thank goodness for this as I have just started a beginner's patchwork and quilting course.  I drive Alfie to the beach and just walk him off lead so no more pulling.

The following photos are of crochet done pre thumb illness:

 

I really love this photo with the glorious colours of this Zauberball 6ply sock yarn used for another Japanese Flower Scarf.  I thought it looked pretty with the fallen leaves from our Snake Bark Acer tree.   DH has been pruning the side garden as I cannot manage the pruners just yet.

 
My gorgeous mannequin displaying the scarf in the glorious Indian Summer light.

 
Pretty circles of crochet ready to be joined in grey Jamieson's Shetland for my car rug/blanket.

 

I am very happy to be back in the land of the living and away from day time telly.  Autumn has always been my favourite time of the year.  I love the misty mornings, the golden light, the falling leaves.  Soon we will celabrate our Silver Wedding Anniversay in our own quiet way, Sophie will be 20 and in a few weekends time we have an 80th Birthday party and Halloween Fancy dress party.  Great. 

I am enjoying Strictly Come Dancing, Spooks, Downton Abbey (of course), Great British Bake Off and DCI Banks.

It would be lovely if you could leave a comment to let me know that someone is still visiting here!