countryside · general stuff · in the woods · spring · wildlife

In the bluebell woods

 

Hello again, hope you’re well. Sorry that I’ve not been around much lately. The children have had a lot of time off school recently because of an odd arrangement of the Easter holidays and although they went back on Monday I’ve spent most of this week deep in pattern writing mode. It’s going well but they’re not quite ready so I’ll post more about them when they’re finished.

Spending a week mostly at the computer has left me feeling a bit cabin-feverish so earlier today I packed myself a little picnic and took myself off for a walk in the woods. It was the perfect antidote to staring at a screen and I thought you might like to accompany me.ย I had walked there 2 weeks ago when the bluebells were just breaking bud but today they were really at their best, I just wish I could have shared the wonderful scent with you because the whole wood was perfumed …

This little oak apple (oak gall) fascinates me. It’s caused by a gall wasp laying an egg in the developing leaf bud and so changing how it develops. I’ll be paying it a visit throughout the year to see how it grows. It’s already changed a fair bit since I first saw it 2 weeks ago …

Well that’s it from me for today. I got home just in time as it’s raining heavily now so I’m going to go put my PJs on and snuggle with some knitting until dinner. Thanks for dropping by, I hope to be around here a little more once these patterns are finished and if you’ve emailed me recently and are still waiting for a reply I’m sorry, I hope to catch up with emails next week.

countryside · general stuff · spring

Happy Easter

Just popping in quickly to wish you all a very happy Easter weekend.

It really feels like the start of spring here with blooms and blossoms popping up everywhere. It feels good to be heading back to the long bright days of summer and thoughts are turning to what to grow in my little vegetable garden this year.

There’s lots of knitting going on too but nothing yet ready to show. I know it’s taking ages for me to get this next pattern out, there have been lots of distractions recently with more paperwork and meetings to do with Toby but it is being worked on and I will keep the blog here up to date with any news. Thanks for being patient with me ๐Ÿ™‚

Enjoy your Easter weekend x

crafts & knitting · food and Drink · general stuff

February days

Well, here we are on the cusp of another school break. As seems to be the way lately the days have been zipping by in a blur without an awful lot seeming to get done.

There has been a fair bit of baking here and of course knitting. I have also been trying to work on the next pattern but have found it hard to give it the concentration it really needs. It will be top of my list of important things to tackle once the children are back at school. Next week will be all about them, well Toby mostly because tomorrow morning Amy is off to New York on a 5 day school trip. She’s spent the week fluctuating between high excitement and extreme nervousness. This will be her first time flying and first time on a different continent, a lot to take in when all of her classmates are old hands at intercontinental traveling. Still I’m sure she’ll have a fab time, it’s a creative arts trip including a Broadway show, Broadway theatre workshop, gallery visits and lots of sightseeing and culture absorbing. In contrast Toby and I will be having a quiet week and hopefully he’ll be up for a few wood walks, though he’s still not as keen as he once was.

Well, have a good week yourself, I’ll leave you with pictures from the my last weeks worth of knitting, baking and general pottering…

Pictures from top to bottom…

  • Animal bodies waiting to be finished;
  • a new project bag exquisitely embroidered by Olivia at This Handmade Life;
  • a day spent starting a new project with some beautiful new yarn – Squoosh Merino Cashmere Lace in ‘powder’ and baking the first of the new season of beautifully pink rhubarb with honey and orange which is delicious eaten with granola and yoghurt;
  • the wild plum tree on the corner of our road in full blossom;
  • a happy Sunday morning lie-in with tea toast and yarn;
  • baking up a batch of lemony baby bundt cakes – recipe from Nigella Lawson, ‘How to be a Domestic Goddess’.

Thanks for stopping by x