Zoë's Knitting Bag

Farm Yarn

I'm always looking for something different and exciting in the yarn line.  This link caught my eye over on Julie's lovely blog and my order arrived today.  I am threading the beads on the natural white 4 ply tonight "come what may" as I feel the need to make yet another pair of fingerless gloves.  Not sure what colour beads though - maybe burnished gold or perhaps something brighter?  This alpaca is a gorgeous ivory shade and organic, and is so, so soft.  Beautiful.  The people were very nice to deal with also which is always a bonus.

High School Prom

We were between a hair appointment and a make up appointment when we heard on the car radio that Haven Bridge had been stuck in the up position.  Oh no, just our luck!!!  The town was grid locked and we had a 20 minute journey across the bridge to another village heading  northwards. We decided to take the longer way along the seafront; thinking we would outwit everyone else.  No Zoe, not so clever this time.  Traffic was at a standstill for 15 minutes and after a frantic call to the beauty salon (of course just when you need it both mobiles were low on credit) and to make matters worse we didn't know the phone number and had to be connected via the operator.  To top all this I had meant to fill up with petrol and only had 50 miles left of fuel.  We turned the air con off and sweltered just inching forward every 5 minutes or so.  Minis automatically turn off the engine if you disengage the clutch - one good thing.  Sophie was getting worried that we would not get to the Prom at all let alone the make up session.  By now it was 5.00 pm and we were still 20 minutes away from the salon and the prom started at 7.00 pm (with a 15 minute journey to get there).  We had the make up appointment, a dress to press and Pepper's ribbon to do. Drastic action was called for.  So a quick 3 point turn and we headed back on ourselves, through the back streets as I had a cunning plan. But to no avail, the town has changed so much and roads you used to be able to go through are now blocked with seating and bollards.  Oh poo!  I suddenly remembered a little back street and yes we were clear of all the traffic and zoomed along Marine Parade and North Denes to Ormesby.  We managed to get to the Prom just in time.  I cannot remember the bridge ever being stuck before in my lifetime.

Here are the photos of Sophie in her emerald green dress:

Thank you for your kind wishes and words about my Dad.  He is at home now and on lots of medication.  The angiogram at Papworth revealed that one artery is totally blocked but the others are OK.  They said it was too dangerous to operate but that his medication should work.  He has to have complete rest and weekly check ups.  He seems very tired and weak and not at all like himself but hopefully with time he will recover.

Dad

As some of you already know, my poor Dad has suffered two heart attacks since Thursday.  He is now in Papworth Hospital undergoing tests. There's really no more that I can say. In view of this, I am taking an extended blog break. 

Please feel free to add your swap photos to the group.  I will check emails from time to time to accept invites to the group. 

Reads and Beads

This eye catching cover caught my attention when I popped over to Cornflower's lovely blog the other day.  Cornflower, (go check out her Cranford Mitts, too), always makes me want to find more time to read and she has some great book recommendations.  It was the synopsis on Amazon that finally convinced me that I needed to order this and that it would be my type of book:

"In a cave set back from the ocean, on the coast of New Zealand, Louise and Schmidt hide along with two local boys frightened of being called up to fight in the Great War. But the sensual rhythm of the tango lessons which Schmidt teaches on that sandy cave floor will have devastating consequences for all of them. Two generations later, Schmidt's fiery granddaughter Rosa, running an Argentine restaurant, captivates a young man with the same sultry music that inspired seduction and deception so many years before."

With the weather set for rain, this is just the sort of thing to devour in the summer house during the early evening with the rain pouring down outside and a scented candle lit in the lantern.

I have had a little tidy up of my sewing box which was choc-a -bloc with stuff.  I thought the old macaroon box gathering dust would make a new home for my seed beads.  One day I would like to learn to embroider with these and am starting to build up a little collection.  Knitting with beads is nice is too, although the threading of the beads onto the yarn is incredibly time consuming.  For now I am happy just to look at them every once in a while, give them a gentle shake and pop them away in their little box.

Words & a Bookmark Swap

Once again, please let me know when you receive your swap parcel.  I would like to get this all tied up and the photos posted on the Flickr group as soon as possible.  Thanks.

Catch Up

At the moment, there's so much to do and such little time.  Sophie is in the middle of her GCSE exams and Jamie is due home (more endless washing!), DH is busy at work and in the garden and it's the start of the tennis season in England.  Jasper's allergy has re emerged from last year and I spent a great deal of yesterday grooming him and bathing his sore eye with salt rinses.  At last the weather has changed and yesterday was glorious with endless sunshine and bright blue skies.  I managed to finish the "Prom Bracelet V2"  and watch Rogi's sad defeat at the French Open. DH was teasing me as he knows how much I like Roger. It really was a poor tennis match and Rafa won easily.  Without doubt, Roger will be victorious again at Wimbledon this year.  I will only be watching the Championships on the box this year as I was not lucky in the ballot this time (well three years running was great).  So what does a girl do?  Sit in the garden or watch the start of Queen's Stella Artois this afternoon.  A bit of both I think.



I didn't tell you about my trip to Richmond.  The drive down was good but the weather was overcast and a mixture of drizzly rain and heavy downpours.  I took the wrong exit from the M25 and ended up driving round Kingston Upon Thames, Richmond Hill and Teddington and finally got to Jamie's Uni with a 40 minute detour. With the seats down, we loaded up Pepper to the brim and then we drove back to Richmond and had lunch here and then spent the remainder of the afternoon by the river.  I really enjoyed walking along this part of the Thames.  There were so many people cycling and walking or just like us later; sitting, chatting and enjoying a nice cuppa.  It was overcast but warmish and so refreshing by the water' edge.  The shops were good and Jamie got a treat from here.  No evidence of knitting shops but Jamie said that Barnes has lots of my sort of shops.  So a visit is pencilled in for later this year.  He is home for the Summer this afternoon, so I am waiting for his call to taxi him back from the train station.

Sophie's show was fab and was a mixture of AmDram (lots of songs from Oliver and other musicals), fabulous costumes and great singing. It wa a fine tribute to Miss Wendy. Sophie was in a gangster style white pin striped suit.  As I well know, the tall girls always have to dance as "men", as there only about 3 male dancers as opposed to 200 girls.  Sorry no photos - not allowed.  Afterwards, we waited outside the stage door for her and an unexpected heavy mist had descended and it was freezing (remember the theatre is at the end of the pier).  Tea and toast were needed for a very late supper.

Thank You Gemma

Yesterday I received my Words & a Bookmark Swap parcel from Gemma.  There is something delicious about receiving a parcel wrapped in crisp brown paper and tied with string.  The box contained hand dyed Blue Faced Leicester Aran wool and it was wound into a cake (something new to me).  The colour is beautiful and it's so soft to touch.  I think another pair of Fetching mittens which are ideal for Autumn dog walks.  The book is Jane Austen's Persuasion which I must admit have not read before!  I was also spoiled with some Lindt chocolate, pretty glass stitch markers complete with their own pouch and a crocheted flower key ring.  Gemma designed and knitted the book mark which is so pretty.  Thank you Gemma and thank you for being so enthusiastic about the swap and so nice to talk to.

 

Please don't forget to show and tell about your parcels, add to the Flickr group or send to me and I will add to the group.

Must dash as tonight we are off to see Sophie dance at the Britannia Pier.  The show is called "An Evening of Song and Dance" and is a tribute to Miss Wendy (Principal of the Phyllis Adams School of Dance) who sadly died last October.  There is probably no single family in this area who has not had at least one member of their family who has attended this dance school.  Myself, my sister and all our school friends used to go to the Ballroom and Latin dance lessons on Saturday afternoons and took the annual summer exams.  Sophie does Latin, Ballroom and disco and tonight she will be dancing the jive.   The costumes are always fantastic and I think we will all enjoy it, even if we have a few tears in our eyes. 

A day in Suffolk

Today is the final day for posting your Words & a Bookmark Swap parcel.  Please don't forget to add the photo of your received goodies on the Flickr group or forward to me and I will do the necessary.  Any problems or questions then don't hesitate to get in touch with me.  I will be checking emails later today and Monday.  Tomorrow I am driving down to SW London to bring back some of Jamie's Uni stuff.  The plan is to have a wander around Richmond and take it easy before the drive back.  Hopefully the roads will be clear early on Sunday!  Luckily I spotted a nail (one of those cable clip things) in one of my tyre walls before my long journey and managed to get a new one fitted.  I'm not having much luck with this car and it's so annoying to have to fork out for a new tyre when the car is only 8 months old.

A few weeks ago, I visited a new (to me) knitting shop in Bungay,Suffolk.  The lovely owner, Gilly, showed me around, made me a coffee and was very welcoming. There's lots of gorgeous yarn and quirky little samples on display.  Such a pretty little shop. I've signed up for a felted flower course in July.  This should be fun.  I came away with some wool for my swap partner and for me, a pair of blonde Lantern Moon needles and not forgetting some sweet little cat shaped buttons.


Whilst in Bungay, I took the opportunity to have a wander and I walked through the churchyard of Holy Trinity and took some photos of the graveyard just for interest.  I'm not sure why but I've been fascinated with the different styles and inscriptions of old graves since I was a child.  I think it's due to to fact that my junior school was an old priory next to a church and as we had no sports fields for athletics we were always marched two by two through the vast churchyard en route to the town's recreation ground.  I know you are interested in this type of thing too, Dave so I took the photos for you.  Sorry about the poor quality but I only had the little Canon Ixus with me that day.  Out of respect, I have no close ups of the inscriptions although many had weathered beyond reading.





















































On the way home, I visited Southwold and enjoyed a walk along the promenade and a nice cup of tea and a toasted tuna sarnie at Susie's tea stall.  How I would love to have my own little tea shop (I'd better buy a lottery ticket today)! LOL.  I spotted a new beach hut under construction (another dream of mine).

















I walked back through the town and bought myself a new pair of Crocs.  I think I need my eyes or senses tested as they are rather a vibrant green.  I'm definitely going through a green phase at  the moment - it always used to be blue.  Anyway, they are very comfy and look much nicer with the two glitzy jewels I added.  Southwold was heaving for a Monday and it was nice to see the shops so busy and bustling.  I saw a Pepper look-a-like near the lighthouse:




































































































All in all, a thoroughly good day.  Apologies for the large gaps between text and photos - Typepad doesn't seem to want to do what I want it to!

Whit Monday

I've been caught up in Sophie's world of dance rehearsals and GCSE exams.  My main role was that of taxi driver again.  Even so, I have managed to get my Words & Bookmark Swap parcel off to the lovely Gemma.  Please remember everyone that the deadline for posting parcels is 31 May and don't forget to either send me your photos or add them to the Flickr group.  I hope to get a list of the swap books together so we can all see them.

Since yesterday the weather has changed and we had very heavy rain.  That didn't spoil our fun as we enjoyed another trip to the theatre.  This time we saw the English Ballet perfom Angelina ballerina.  Lots of little girls and big girls were in the audience dressed in pink!

Today is very windy.  I'm planning to bake cakes and roast chicken with vegetables and then snuggle down to watch a film and do a little knitting.  I'm really excited about my current knitting project but need to knuckle down and get on with it before I take a photo.

Here's a few shots from this morning's windy garden.




We have spotted a Collared Dove on her nest.  She's found sanctuary amongst the clematis which shrouds the summer house and we just glimpsed her through the window whilst inside this little outhouse.  We have noticed two eggs.  This poor photo was taken with the flash disabled and through glass. We will keep you posted.

Dreaming of a Sophie Digard

The weather has been great and finally we have been able to enjoy garden barbecues, lots of reading outside and knitting too.  The light is so good for fine detail.  Sophie's bracelet is finished except for a fastening but is far too big for her.  I will just have to have it and make her another smaller version!

On the Words and a Bookmark swap front, Amanda has sent a most generous parcel to Christine, which can be seen here. I must get a move on with my parcel to send.  Please don't forget the deadline is 31 May and  feel free to contact each other to find out a little more about each other.

I've only just discovered the most beautiful designs from Sophie Digard when I received a news email update from Loop.  Her scarves and bags are so lovely and this makes me really wish I could crochet but it is her necklaces that I find just so perfect.  I may have to save up for one.  Every time I look at my flowering Clematis Montana on our old garage (which now serves as a garden shed and separate 5 star bachelor pad for Oscar, our cat), I see Sophie Digard necklaces.  Can you see the resemblance?

Actually, I also see those necklaces when I look at our Summer house!

May 1906

7th May 1906
"Weather very close and sultry.  I discovered most carefully hidden Robin's nest today in a marshy spinney in Elmdon Park.  I was stooping down to gather some cowslips, when a robin fled out over my hand, from under the roots of an Alder tree growing close beside me; it was quite a small tree, supported by four strong roots, which held it up clear of the ground, forming an archway.  In this cavity, right under the centre of the tree was placed a nest which contained five eggs.  The Crab apple trees and bushes are looking very beautiful now, covered with pink blossom and crimson buds."

The above is an entry from Edith Holden's nature notes "The Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady" which was published in 1977 and 1978.  I still have my book from 1978 and love it as much now as I did then. Edith Holden recorded in words and paintings the flora and fauna of the British countryside through the changing seasons of the year. The book was so popular at the time that it triggered a whole range of kitchen accessories - I still have two flan dishes, a butter dish and we did have a duvet cover and matching curtains!!!  I wonder what Edith would have thought of all this.

The weather is so lovely today and I leave you with some photos, one of our own flowering Crab apple tree and other garden beauties.

You can just see Jasper's mini football - here in the bottom right .