Category: in the woods

crafts & knitting · general stuff · in the woods · wildlife · winter

February, the waiting month

Julie (little Cotton Rabbits)41 Comments

 

February always feels like the month where you need the most patience. The shortest day of the year may well be weeks behind us now, but February days can feel as short, dark and cold as it is possible to be and although we all know that Spring is on the way, concrete evidence of that is hard to find. The grey days coupled with lingering sniffles have us feeling a little blue here, even the mood-enhancing effects of cake seemed more short-lived last week and we’ve all needed a little extra comfort and cosiness.

Unsurprisingly I’ve been finding mine in knitting and I’d like to show you what I’ve been working on but I’m not quite ready to reveal, so that will be for another day. I have finished the Snawpaws mittens though and as today had the brightest start that we’ve seen in weeks I grabbed them and my camera and set off for an early walk (leaving the others to a half-term break lie-in).

We’re lucky to have such a good choice of places to walk and today I chose the New River canal and Amwell nature reserve. Though the trees are still bare I’ve come home reassured that Spring really is just around the corner: there were plenty of catkins and buds; frilly anemone leaves underfoot in the woods and a feeling of renewed intimacy between the resident swans. The male swan spent a good deal of time thrashing the water with his huge wings and putting on quite a display for his mate and it’s nice to think that there will be a new clutch of fluffy grey signets hatching out in a few months. A little robin was trilling away in the hedge and flew down to greet me, perching on a fence post just beyond arms reach. He was most amenable to being photographed and offered me several poses to choose from, such a bold and entertaining little chap as he was. It was a lovely morning to be out and I’m glad I made the effort and resisted that tempting lie-in.

I’m hoping to get out later in the week for a snowdrop walk because once they’ve emerged there’s no denying that Spring has begun. ‘Til then I’ll be keeping Toby entertained and busy and hopefully squeezing in a few rows of knitting here and there. Hope the week ahead is good to you, see you soon.

crafts & knitting · general stuff · in the woods · winter

Mid December days

Julie (little Cotton Rabbits)22 Comments

Well, I’m not doing well with my plan to pop in here more frequently am I? There has been productivity to my days since I was last here though; I’m scribbling notes and testing ideas for a new pattern and have been knitting lots of new animals from the existing patterns too. Having made two recent batches of finished animals has really brought home to me how much I love making them and how I’d like to make more next year, probably seasonal batches with a little theme, so I’ll keep you posted here about progress.

There’s been so much knitting in my December days, it’s the perfect antidote to all of the planning, shopping, preparing and general business that comes with the time of year. The little bunny at the top there was made as a gift for a friend and I’m making a few more as stocking fillers (pattern is my free teeny tiny toys pattern)

I’ve finished and am wearing the scarf  above, knitted in the beautiful Blend No. 1 from Ysolda. I do love the softness of this yarn and it is wonderfully warm and soft next to the skin. The pattern is the Flora Cowl by Carrie Bostick Hoge but I’ve made it into a long scarf instead of joining the ends to make a cowl.

Also in my WIPs basket under plenty of bunny bits are lots of personal projects, a pair of mittens, 2 pairs of wristwarmers, a shawl, a scarf, a crochet blanket and 3 pairs of socks – I seem to have finally succumbed to the charm of sock knitting. Goodness knows when any of these will get finished but I’m not in any hurry.

As well as finding peace and contentment in knitting I’ve also been seeking out silence and solitude in the woods. It’s such a perfect place to find calmness and I always come away feeling refreshed. The pictures below are from walks over the last few weeks in Cowheath wood, a mixture of pines and birches bordered by ancient oaks and hornbeams.

Well, I’m off to knit a little before the chaos of the weekend descends. Next week will be all about the build up to Christmas, so I expect it will be a busy one for us all. Here’s wishing you some peace and calm amongst the chaos and success in ticking off most of your to-do list! See you soon x

autumn · countryside · crafts & knitting · general stuff · in the woods

autumn knits and woodsy walks

Julie (little Cotton Rabbits)43 Comments

Time seems to be whizzing past faster than ever at the moment and I can’t be the only one who feels a sense of panic every time there’s an advert break on TV, full of Christmas urgency as they are. But I’m not feeling remotely Christmassy yet so I’m thinking I’ll just stick my head in the sand and listen to the radio instead. In my mind it’s still early autumn, a notion helped by the fact that many of the trees here are still in green leaf but it is a little wishful thinking I suppose. Last posting dates for Christmas really aren’t that far away so I’m doing my best to finish off a batch of animals. I am getting there but progress is slower than planned. This is Albie and he’s all ready to travel but his brothers and sisters are still in need of tails and buttons. I hope to have them ready in the next few days and will be sending out emails to my mailing list shortly with details of when they’ll be available to buy.

As mentioned lots of the trees here are hanging on to their green, although there’s a definite shift in the colour spectrum and some are already resplendent in autumn bright colours. It was recently half term break here and wood walks are always a good way to keep Toby busy (happily he’s back to enjoying them again). Being close to ancient broadleaf woods with a network of well trodden pathways is something that I am extremely grateful for and they never disappoint whatever the season but autumn is really the time when they are at their best.

There is something so very peaceful about walking quietly in a wood and it always does me the power of good not least because it’s a truly sensory experience…Your nose is delighted by an earthy blend of growth and decay. In the heart of the wood you can stand completely still and loose yourself in the gentle sounds; the sigh of the breeze moving the leaves; the chatter of small birds; the drilling of a woodpecker somewhere off to the right; the sudden, startled scamper of a squirrel as it looks up from burying acorns and realises you are there. With a kindly wind direction you may even be able to creep up on a muntjac, underfoot moss masking the sound of your approach until you are close enough to see individual hairs on his coat as he browses his way through the undergrowth on tippytoe pointed hooves.

Sadly I cannot capture the sounds or smells here for you but I can share some of the beauty that the woods near us provide.

Woodland pictures: Danemead wood, Ermine Street and Broxbourne Common, late October 2016