Zoë's Knitting Bag

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 .

Prom Bracelet

I found a lovely pattern on Ravelry for a beaded bracelet for Sophie's Prom by Heather Murphy.  On our way to the ballet yesterday, I stopped in a fantastic embroidery/cross stitch shop in Norwich and bought some DMC 8 cotton thread and of course I couldn't resist the seed beads.  Sophie wanted Emerald beads and gold thread and I plan to make myself a bracelet later in Duck Egg blue with burnished gold beads.  This pattern is very easy to knit. As the smallest needles I own are 1.5 mm and I can't wait for an internet delivery (there's no chance of getting any 1.25 mm in Norfolk) I started to knit the little bracelet this afternoon.  I am pleased with my efforts so far.  Sophie also plans to wear a Roman snake bracelet and an upper arm Roman style bracelet.  The dress is still a closely guarded secret but the hair style will be Roman style and the makeup will be gold and aqua eye shadow (is anyone still reading)? LOL.  These Proms are serious business and the amount of planning involved is incredible.  Some girls are having spray on tans just for the Prom!

A Midsummer Night's Dream by The Northern Ballet was yesterday's trip to the theatre.  I booked these tickets in January and forgot that we had front row seats although I believe that ballet devotees do not rate the front row as you cannot supposedly see the dancers feet.  Well that's one advantage of being tall.  I had a perfect view of their feet. 

The dancers were all on stage limbering up before the show started and the ballet was set in the Forties with the dance company on a train journey to Edinburgh.  As the train entered the tunnel, we were spectators of the dancers' dreams and the Shakespeare play unfolded.  The costumes, sets, props and dancers were brilliant and I loved it all.  Oh, we could also see the musicians in the orchestra pit - it was such a delight.

Ballet

We're going to the matinee performance of this and we have been looking forward to it for some time but it looks like it's going to be one of the warmest Saturdays for ages and we will be inside!  I'll leave you with a photo of the clematis on the garage wall (sorry Kate of MA - it's not Nelly Moser but I think it's Clematis Jackmanii.)

I hope you've all got your swap partner e mails - any problems - please leave a comment - I will check tonight and over this long Bank Holiday weekend.  Hope the sun shines for us all. x

Promise

The weather is finally changing and the garden is full of promise of the beauty yet to unfold.  The cherry blossom is only just emerging and the clematis is overflowing with buds.

The swap replies are being returned very promptly which will give me a better chance of getting them all together this weekend and sending out your swap partner details.  Please be assured that, once the swap is complete, I will shred all your contact details (except email as it will be nice to keep in touch from time to time) and delete the word documents from my laptop. I'm a bit obsessed with shredding!!!! Our paper shreddings are put to good use as they go straight into the composter and so far it has yielded marvellous results. 

It looks like we are all of a similar age, with lots of us in our late 40s but the age range so far spans from 19 to early 50s.  However, in my opinion, age is irrelevant as we are ALL young at heart and obviously all love reading and crafting.

February Frost & Fog

Brrrr it's freezing.  Pepper had to have her fog lights on this morning as I took Sophie to school.  It was quite eerie driving along the country roads to get to the bank in the nearest village.  At times the sun just broke through and the hedges lining the fields looked like a Christmas card.  Although I had my camera with me, I could  not safely stop and my plan to take a few shots of Filby Broad failed as the sun had gone in again and it was just fog.  It has lingered all morning so all I can show are a few garden shots taken earlier today.  DH cannot work today as it's still below freezing -  too cold for building work ( he's cleaning the greenhouse out - bless him).  I'm in the warm although I just cleaned the windows (mad I know).  It's just the weather for lentil stew with bacon and Norfolk dumplings and knitting of course.  Please drive safely, if you have fog.

Panto Time

Yesterday was gloomy, wet and windy.  Today is bright, dry and calm.  The sky is really full of beautiful sunshine.  Our bulbs in pots are rapidly shooting.  Here are some photos for the records.  I wonder how early the daffs and tulips will appear this year?

No doubt after such a clear sky we will have a frost tonight. Time to get out those scarves and gloves as I am chauffeur and companion taxi driver to Sophie and her two best friends this evening.  She entered the Saturday competition on Radio Broadland and was lucky enough to win tickets for Dick Whittington at Norwich's Theatre Royal.  I'm not really a lover of pantomimes but I am keen to see the theatre's multi million pound makeover.

Little Cotton Cakes

I received a beautiful parcel today from Julie.  Thank you very much.  I am keeping my little collection in a glass cupboard in the kitchen.

The new arrivals from Julie are the white vanilla cupcake and the pink flower cupcake - so nice. The Battenberg and the fluted pastry tart are from Jolie who featured in this month's Country Living magazine.

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Oh and to finish a few more flower snaps (taken this afternoon) at the Knitting Bag residence!

Sunny Sunday

Today the sun is shining and I took some morning shots of various flowers, plants and things to share with you all.  There may even be some knitting to show later today.  School's out for summer and we have plenty of trips planned.  Tomorrow we will be going to the pictures to see Harry Potter.  In September, Atonement will be released with Keira Knightley in one of the lead roles - really looking forward to this.

Sorry, I have not posted all week - I really think I am struggling with new things to write about and work has been busy.  On the Yarn in a Tea Cup Swap front I have one little parcel ready to post tomorrow to Jennifer and if anyone has any news about the swap or photos of parcels please post on the Flickr group and/or email me.  I have not heard of any problems so  I assume everyone is in touch with their partners but please do not hesitate to contact me if you have not heard.  Also, just so you all know and to keep things "above board", Sigrid and I are swapping directly with each other as she is a very  busy lady and her original email reply did not reach me.  Sigrid I'm still working on your parcel!

More Flowers

I have set up a group for the Yarn in a Tea Cup swap over on Flickr and all swappies should have received their invitations to join.  I think we have 20 members at present so just a few more to join.  Please let me know if I have missed sending you an invite.  Vikkie has already received her swap parcel from Mental Rose and the contents look fantastic. The wool which I planned to send to Jennifer,arrived yesterday from Jamiesons of Shetland and, although lovely it may be a little bit too scratchy for her, so I need to re-think.

Sophie has been busy with her Latin American and Disco exams and school performances.  Jamie is away at the Latitude Festival with friends as a last get together before they all go their separate ways at the end of this summer.  Some to start work and others to go to Uni.  Thankfully the weather has been fairly good so no Glastonbury mud bath for them.

Once again I will leave you with some flower close up shots from the garden.  There are more over on my Flickr (please see the link in my sidebar).  Enjoy the rest of the weekend.  Still dry here on the coast!