Our 'new normal' is beginning to feel familiar now, with returns to comfortable routines for the three of us here and Amy settling in well and having a great time away at Uni.
For most of the last week I've been sorting my tangled mess of knitting projects and tidying the house, but on Thursday I headed off for a peaceful autumn walk. The leaves have yet to fully change colour, so the woods are not yet at their most photogenic and I forgot to take my waking boots (yet another indication of my lack of concentration skills right now) so I didn't end up walking as far as planned. I had hoped to find lots of fungi, but it's been so dry that there was very little around and what I did find was shrivelled and sad looking.
Friday was really windy here, so although I had actually remembered to put my walking boots back in the car, I decided to stay home. Happily I was browsing Ravelry and saw Alicia Plummer's newly released ParkTrail sock pattern, so I snuggled up, cast on and enjoyed a little quiet and cosy knitting time in the warm afternoon sunlight shimmering through the wind-whipped trees outside the window. The notes on the yarn I'm using etc. are on my Ravelry project page.
My list of things to do this coming week includes finally finishing off the batch of animals that I started earlier this year. I'll pop back with some pictures in a few days or so and hopefully will have some news of when they'll be available for those interested soon. Maybe we'll have a little giveaway too – it was my 12th blogging anniversary at the beginning of September, so I think a giveaway would be in order.
Hope you're enjoying the weekend where you are. I'm off to knit more rows of my socks – they're going to make great walking socks for more autumn walks. See you soon, J x
little cotton rabbits 
I LOVE those shoes!! They look so comfortable! Can you tell us anything about them?
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Thanks Bonney, those are my favourite shoes! They’re a brand called Nature Sko but unfortunately they’re not available anymore – they were sold by The Natural Shoe Store but they’ve closed 😦 https://www.thenaturalshoestore.com/brands/nature-sko.html
You could try looking for Duckfeet shoes – they are a Danish brand and are a similar shape.
J
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Julie I’ve been waiting for a batch of your magical “babies” to become available. I have a great granddaughter,Noomi,(my first) and I would love to give her a bunny for Christmas this year. I check your etsy page daily and will continue to do so, or should I check here first?
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Thanks Patricia and congratulations on your first great grandchild. I will post a progress report here on the blog and also plan to host a giveaway which will be a random draw thing – more details to follow in the next post. Before I list any on Etsy I’ll send out an advance notice of the exact time to those on my mailing list – if you’d like to join that the sign up form is in the column over on the right hand of the screen.
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They are lovely socks Julie… have just spotted them on Instagram too. I need a new knitting project so might investigate these. Pleased Amy has settled at Uni and the rest of you have settled to your new routine xx
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Thank you so much!
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It’s a lovely pattern Gina and is knitting up quickly as it’s designed for thicker yarn – perfect for cosy autumn/winter socks. Thanks so much for your kind comment – it is such a relief that Amy has found her feet there so quickly and is really happy xxx
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Hi Julie
Glad you getting some knitting, walking and bit relaxing time. Like you we have had dreadful winds and here in Largs pouring rain for days!!!!!!
Only bonus is I’ve got things done inside lol.
Looking forward to seeing your wee critters, I’ll be watching for them as usual ha.
Thank you for lovely blog I really enjoy reading them also the lvely pics from your walks.
Hope your daughter has settle into uni life and Toby doing well.
Take care
Hugs
Ellie (Scotland) xxxxx
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I haven’t come here for a long long time and I have just spent more than an hour reading several posts I had missed…. Your life is changing as Amy and Toby grow… I am glad to read good news and that it is a happy life you have. Your photos are always beautiful and I find your texts very pleasant to read(I learn some English words or phrases every time). Sending you love from Britany, Anne (and Noisette, do you remember her?) xxx
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Such beautiful autumnal images Julie. 🙂
I love the pattern on those socks, so lovely.
Enjoy your cosy,
V x
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It sounds wonderfully cosy with you. Perfect knitting weather today, it was wild and windy here. Time to light the candles and break out the yarn I think. Your picture of the woods is gorgeous. CJ xx
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Hope there’s some milder weather on the way for you Ellie – it feels like all of the leaves are getting torn from the trees before their lovely autumn colours fully develop. Thanks so much for your kind words and wishes, hugs to you too xxx
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Hello Anne, it’s lovely to hear from you (and Noisette, one of my favourite bunnies). Life has been changing here, especially recently with Amy going off to university – it has made me a little melancholy and nostalgic but she is having a great time and I’m getting used to a quieter house and I am enjoying my knitting as always 🙂 Hope life is treating you kindly over there in Britany xxx
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Thanks so much Vivienne. Hopefully there will be some leaves left on the trees after this wet and windy weekend as the colours are still not in full glory yet. It’s a really nice sock pattern, especially as it calls for quite thick yarn which knits up quickly. Hope you’re keeping cosy too xxx
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You’re right CJ, this wet and windy weather is perfect knitting weather and I think your plan is an excellent one. Hope you have a snuggly Sunday there xxx
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Aw! Glad you are gradually adjusting to your new life. Glorious photos as usual, and I love the little acorns. But remember…..knit two socks!
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Hi Julie, so glad you are settling into a new routine and that Amy is having a great time at Uni. Autumn is the best time for planning new projects isn’t it and your socks are knitting up beautifully. I hope you haven’t had all this awful rain we have had this weekend but candles and knitting help! Looking forward to seeing your new batch of animals and congratulations on 12 years of very successful blogging, so look forward to your posts. Sue x
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Thanks so much Ruthie 🙂
Knitting that second sock in order to make a pair is definitely much harder than casting on a new project!
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Thanks so much Sue, I hope the rain has passed over where you are – it really has been a very wet and windy weekend. Hopefully there’s been a little cosy and relaxing knitting for you as an antidote to the weather xx
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Hi Julie,
I am a brand new reader after finding your blog and Ravelry page when I purchased my first knitted toy patterns: bunny girl and boy elephant. I started the bunny today, a sunny fall Sunday afternoon. I am really happy with it so far. So cute! Also enjoying your blog posts and that sock pattern looks yummy. Do the dresses in the Textured Dresses pattern fit the bunny and all the other animals too? Thank you for the delightful patterns!
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I’m so glad Amy is settling n. I’ve been thinking about you and Toby and the bike riding and wondering if you’ve gone again😊 we had a dusting of snow on the pumpkins this morning but the moisture is so very needed hat it’s hard to complain. I can’t wait to see your newest batch of animals.
Best,
Bonnie
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Surprising how quick a change in routine can soon become normal! Love your shoes, my kind of style!
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Hi Julie, finding a new post from you always makes me smile. Your photographs are as lovely as your knitting. Glad you are adjusting to your new normal. I remember the year my firstborn went away to college. It was a tough transition for me with lots of tears. The good news is that we all survived. Hugs to you!
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take care – sock knitting is addictive! have lots of fun
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Cute shoes Julie! And I love those pretty new socks you’re working on — they’ll be perfect with the shoes. Happy Fall — and YAY for a good start for Amy!!!
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Hi Stephanie and thanks so much for buying the patterns, I hope you really enjoy knitting from them. Yes, the extra clothing patterns, including the textured dresses pattern, will fit any of the animals s they’re all the same size. Thanks so much for visiting, J x
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Hi Bonnie, it is such a relief that Amy has settled well. I’m still missing her rather a lot but it really helps to know she’s having a great time. No more bike riding here yet but I will be planning to take Toby in the school half term break at the end of the month – I just hope he’s a bit more practiced at putting in a little effort on the pedalling! Goodness, snow already! Hope you get a little gentle rain before the weather turns colder. Will come and visit you on Instagram soon and see your news xxx
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Thanks so much Julie. It is surprising and welcome – it’s hard to concentrate and focus when things feel out of whack but I’m getting there 3 weeks on and it does help ease my prone-to-worrying-mind that she’s having such a great time! Thanks for the shoe love, they came from The natural shoe store and I’m so sad that they’ve recently closed down 😦 If you like these you could take a look at ‘Duckfeet’ shoes – https://www.duckfeet.com as they’re a very similar style – I have a pair of those too 🙂
J x
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Thanks so much Susan, I very much like the thought that my posts can create a smile somewhere. Thanks too for sharing your experience – it certainly helps to know that others struggled a bit too but weathered the experience well. Big hugs back to you too xxx
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It certainly is Elizabeth, thanks so much and happy sock knitting to you too xxx
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Helloo Anna and thanks so much. Happy Fall to you too and many congratulations on the new arrival in your family – such exciting and heartwarming times. I’ve been meaning to pop over and have a proper visit to your blog so I’m going to pop the kettle on, make a cup of tea and head over there now for a good catch up xxx
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Julie, has it really been twelve years? I must have been reading your blog and loving your creations and your photos for almost that long. Not even sure how I found you–it is possible that I googled ‘knitting + autism’. My boys turned 18 about two weeks ago so I have a new normal too–autism services for adults is a whole new kettle of fish and I am not enjoying it!! However, knitting keeps me nearly sane (plus three cats help too!) Congratulations on twelve wonderful years!! I think I should send you a gift for all the pleasure you have shared in that time ❤
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Enjoy meeting your little bunnies,foxes,and pigs on Ravelry. Especially like how you incorporate little bits of color to make the features really pop off the page. Gives me ideas of leftover yarns. You bring the animals to life Julie!
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Can I just say… I ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS LOVE your shoes!!!! ;o)
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