October ramblings

October 9, 2017 Julie (little Cotton Rabbits)23 Comments

Void2

Slowworm

Slow worm

Slowworm2

Cows

Cows3

Cows2

Woollies

At the end of last week I went walking in a local nature reserve at Broxbourne woods where I was delighted to come across a slow worm sunbathing on the path. Although he looks very snake-like and does have a forked tongue he is actually a legless lizard (apparently his ability to blink and shed his tail make him not a snake). He was so blissed out in the patch of sunlight that I had to step over him and even though I took lots of photos of him he didn't seem bothered by me. He'll probably be starting his winter hibernation in the next month so I expect he's extra bold on these last sunny, warm afternoons while he tops up his tan!

I also met a group of lovely ladies. These beautiful Red Poll cattle have been introduced to the pasture in a habitat conservation project involving legacy grazing. The Red Poll breed is native to the East of England and they certainly looked very at home and were completely relaxed about me walking through their field.

Whilst out and about I've been enjoying the cosy warmth of the void shawl (pattern and yarn details in link on my Ravelry project page). The yarn is really soft and comfortable to wear and the shawl is pretty flexible, looped twice or three times depending on how cold the breeze is. The pom-poms are still in place despite Toby's attentions and I'm hoping he'll be able to help me to make him some pom-poms of his own to play with as a distraction from playing with mine.

Back at home I've been finishing off patterns, starting new socks and getting winter woollies out of storage ready for wearing. I've also been enjoying the October issue 79 of Knit Now magazine which has an interview with me as part of the Knitter of the year awards that I won a prize in earlier in the year. The awards nominations for 2017 have just opened so if you'd like to nominate someone then head over to their page for more details.

Well, I'm off to continue with pattern writing, won't be long now I promise – hopefully I'll be back with news in the next post, til then keep well – there seem to be coughs and colds everywhere at the moment so fingers crossed you avoid them x

garden stuff · wildlife

thunder moon

July 11, 2017 Julie (little Cotton Rabbits)22 Comments

Strm front

Raindrops

Rainy

Watering can

After the storm

Thundermoon

Frog

Cosmos4

Cosmos3

Plums

Bee6

Bee7

Bee5

Bee3

July's full moon is known to some as the 'thunder moon' and that has been most appropriate this week.

Overall this year has been really dry and when rain has been forecast it's either completely evaporated before reaching us or we've just had a short shower. This last week has had a different story though and we've had several summer storms that have swept in quickly with dark, ominous clouds bearing torrential rain. Roads have been dramatically turned into rivers and the windows shaken by the loud thunder before the storm has headed off over the horizon leaving a wonderful sunset and the sound of dripping leaves.

It's been good frog weather, which has pleased Toby who finds a hopping frog to be the funniest thing on the planet, though if they hop in his direction and get too close he is liable to panic and run away squealing. The rain has been great for the garden too, everything is green and growing fast with flowers attracting lots of visitors.

This week has also seen a welcome slowing to the pace of life here. The last month has been really busy as we've been taking Amy up and down the country to visit various University open days. She has a year left of A levels before she leaves school and hopes to go on and study English and creative writing, which would be perfect for her as she's always written the most wonderful stories and has a flair with words. Hopefully everything will come together for her during this next year and she'll be starting a new chapter in her own personal story. The departure of a grown child is a strange time for a family though and is contrasting the very different needs of our two children even more than before; one ready to fly the nest and begin a new independent existence and one becoming even more dependant with the ending of the school years. It is what it is though and we are excited for Amy as she starts to make plans and preparations for her future, whilst trying not to dwell too much on how quickly the years fly by.

Uni visiting

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

February, the waiting month

February 13, 2017 Julie (little Cotton Rabbits)41 Comments

Swans

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.

Swans1