Sorry to have stayed away for so long. Unfortunately blogging is one of the first things to fall by the wayside when things get busy, and things have been far too busy for my liking recently. First there was Toby's school play week (which was an upheaval for Toby and a tough time for us but happily in the past now) and then there was the half term break, which again Toby found difficult because of the change in routine. He and I went to stay with my Mum and Dad for a few days and playing with his cousin Zoe really helped him get through the week.
Happily we are now settling back into the term-time routine which is nicely predictable for Toby and brings me a calmer pace with some lovely knitting time. To celebrate my reunion with my pointy sticks and yarn I have cast on a new project…
I'm using an ancient ball of stashed yarn that has no ball band but I think it's Jaeger and the pattern is the lovely 'catching butterflies' by Tiny Owl Knits.
I think these will be the perfect mittens for wearing on a cool summer evening, or even the cold summer days that we've been having rather a lot of recently.
There are also bunnies and foxes slowly emerging from my knitting bag and I'm still plodding along on my one-a-day misty afghan which is now getting big enough to sit under as I work on it – a bonus at the moment due to this cold, wet and windy start to June.
Hopefully the sun will rediscover our little patch soon. The newly-fledged birds would certainly benefit from better weather – like this little blue-tit who came out of the nest last week with a big chunk of it caught around his leg and wasn't able to fly. I carefully caught him and managed to cut it off – thank goodness for the tiny points on embroidery scissors. He fluttered off into the shrubs and hopefully he's doing fine now.
Well, it's nice to be back again and I'm looking forward to catching up with everyone, see you soon x
little cotton rabbits 
Nice to have you back 😀
That little bird looks properly discombobulated, but then what a dramatic way to start flying solo!
Gorgeous mitts 😀
LikeLike
Welcome back, you have been missed.
LikeLike
Lovely to have you back Julie!
Your mitts are beautiful, I love the little butterflies. 🙂
Thank goodness you spotted the poor little bluetit and came to it’s rescue!! I love happy ending stories like this.
Have a lovely knitting week,
Vivienne x
LikeLike
glad to hear life is a litle calmer for you x
Beautiful mitts and the colour should hopefully encourage sky of the same blue ….fingers crossed.
What a sweet little bird…poor thing x
have a lovely week
love jooles x
LikeLike
ohhh i love tiny owl knits – a beautiful girl who creates such magical patterns…
i have three patterns just waiting for me to have the time to start on them…
glad you are knitting again
love to you
t x
p.s dear old noah no ears is having his hair cut this week – enough to make at least two sweaters! 🙂
LikeLike
a bit of a ‘blue’ post today Julie.. Glad to hear normality and knitting have resumed. Those mitts are gorgeous, I found a baby Blue Tit the other day too in our park you can’t believe just how small they are until you see them close up can you.
LikeLike
It’s very good to see you and to hear things are calmer now. Your mittens are gorgeous, and just the thing for the moment – maybe we should issue them to all the Olympic athletes too!
LikeLike
lovely to have you here again! like your blue mittens!!!
xxxx Alessandra
LikeLike
My blog is the first to go too. 🙂 I very much understand. My blogging lately has been scarce and sketchy!
Dang it!!! I was hoping things would go better for your dear Toby! That is so physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually draining. Nothing else quite compares.
Your mittens are gorgeous!! The butterflies make them so magical! I like the blue too. It’s a quiet and calm blue. Just looking at them makes me think of a lazy summer day laying back, looking at the clouds dreamily…….
Good job keeping up on your one a day! The weather here has been crazy too! For a few days it was scorching in the 90’s! I wondered what in the world the rest of the summer would turn into if we were already hitting the 90’s but then we’ve shot way down and it has actually been cold and windy. We could sure use more rain though… We are dryer than dry here and it isn’t good. Fires are already breaking out all over in the mountains. Ugh! Makes for yucky air to breath.
Glad you are able to come back to come back and visit us in blogging land! Thank you for your kind comments. As always, I so appreciate them and look forward to them. I feel incredibly blessed for our friendship! 😀
Much love!!
XXOO
Rachel
LikeLike
Haha, that little birdy looks like he’s mad at you LOL. Good to see you back — your hand warmers are just beautiful. And I’m predicting the sun will shine and the weather will be beautiful in late August! ;-D (Also, please send rain here — we’re having a bit of a drought!)
LikeLike
So nice!
LikeLike
Hello Julie, it is lovely to catch up with you and especially good to know that the days of upheaval are behind you. There is no better way of celebrating a return to normality than with a new knitting project. Julie, those mittens are quite honestly the work of fairies; gossamer like, I believe. The butterfly is waiting to take flight just like your fledglings. My husband built a rudimentary wooden bird house in time for winter. For months the house remained silent and then… a couple of weeks ago we realised it had been taken over by a couple of blue tits and four fledglings. My husband was so proud! Quite rightly so.
LikeLike
Welcome back I missed you
Chris xxx
LikeLike
That butterfly is so so so cute 🙂 And so is the birdie.
Missed you!
LikeLike
I know this busy, buried place. But oh – YOU SAVED A BIRD!! What a privilege – a miracle. I love it when you are doing exactly what you do – using your natural and beloved gifts – and suddenly, you are able to help someone or make the world a little better for someone simply through continuing to use the things you are so familiar with, the skills that come naturally to you. I think each time that happens, it’s a gift – the Lord sends the problem to you, his excellent daughter, knowing you can snip off the burden almost without thinking.
LikeLike
hello sweetie
what an adorable yarn you have there! the colour is beautiful and so perfect for ‘catching butterflies’ (i love stephanie’s patterns).
i’m so happy you managed to save the little bird 🙂
and i understand what you are saying about the play and school break business, there are several autists in my family.
wishing you a lovely week xx
LikeLike
The look on the blue tit’s face is hilarious!
As is the fact that both you and I are seriously considering mittens/gloves in June.
LikeLike
I really like your new mittens; those butterfies are so delicate and pretty! I don’t have a garden but have been religiously watching all the fledglings on Springwatch recently. Your grumpy little blue tit is adorable! x
LikeLike
Oh my goodness! That little guy is the cutest thing ever. This is my first time to your blog, and it’s just beautiful. I’ll be back!
Anna
LikeLike
Glad that Toby is in a settled routine again. The blue mittens are really gorgeous. I have her little kitten pattern. Lovely story about the little bird. I’m fed up with this dreadful weather, too. Zoe x
LikeLike
Love the mittens what a lovely pattern.
LikeLike
So nice to have you back! I check in on you nearly daily. What a kind soul you are to help the litle bird. Here’s a big wish for happiness to you and yours.
LikeLike
I don’t know how you manage to have so many projects on the go at once – i am envious!
The mittens are lovely and hurrah for the blue tit.
LikeLike
Your baby bluetit is adorable! Fingers crossed for him. The mitts are also a lovely shade of blue. It’s almost thermals weather here again…
LikeLike
Oh my – your knitting looks even more AMAZING than usual! That yarn is magical and I LOVE the butterflies! I have never been particularly good at knitting and have always preferred crochet, but that is so inspiring! Even more so than your rabbits (if that is possible) – maybe because it looks much more straightforward than the rabbits.
Good to see you pop back in – I hope life settles down into a routine again.
Emma
xx
LikeLike
Aw, a little fledgling blue tit! Just like ours. That knitting pattern is cute too. 🙂
LikeLike
I’m sure the little bird was properly grateful for the rescue assist. We had a confused hummingbird that couldn’t find his way out of my husbands workshop awhile ago, but with a little help, he was finally on his way to the next flower. It’s always a little boost when you can help out a critter in need.
LikeLike
I just love your blog and have been following it since I have been poorly ( with cancer). I so admire your strength and the work you do for Autism . I love your bunnies and dream one day I may own one .But the main reason for this message is because I have fallen inlove with your gloves too and wondered if you could tell me how you knitted them on straight needles ? I have got the same pattern but cant knit in the round and dont know where to put my thumb gusset – is it in the centre of the row ? I would really appreciate your guidance . Warm regards Caroline x
LikeLike
Lovely to hear from you Julie. Glad you have got back into routine after all your recent upheaval. What beautiful butterfly mittens and in such a lovely shade too.
Can’t wait to see all your new bunnies and their friends…give us a peek soon!
Fleur xx
LikeLike
Welcome back Julie! I came to your blog straight from Tiny Owl…and the butterfly mittens…wondering whether to make them before the next big project! They do look gorgeous. Glad Toby is settled a little again. Love to you all Jx
LikeLike
What a sweet bird…I’m sure your helping hand made all the difference to this little fella.
LikeLike
The mitts look really lovely. Sort of misty and dreamy! Well done for saving the little blue tit. Lovely picture of it. Rachel x
LikeLike
So glad that you have some knitting time. I’m a big TOK fan and the Rav group is the sweetest. Hope to see you there.
LikeLike
I enjoyed catching up on your recent posts this morning and especially enjoyed the photos – especially the poppies! Glad you came to the little bird’s rescue. He doesn’t look too happy about being entangled!
LikeLike
Oh, YAY! I just KNEW i’d find my name on this one. AND I DID! Now I can sleep in peace, knowing you know that I was here, and that I send bundles and grundles of love every day, whether you can hear it or not! Kisses –
LikeLike
Beautiful mittens! Love the butterfly and the soft blue color. Your knitting is so perfect!!
LikeLike
So pleased to see you back. Hope you feel fully refreshed and inspired! Beautiful hand warmers. What an exquisite colour. Thankyou for your time and inspiration, and for sharing your lovely family with us all.
LikeLike