Daffycat's at it again!!

Sharon is having a giveaway - it's a choice of two hand dyed fabrics, both really pretty, so if you fancy your chances, do pop over thare and take a look. It's Daffycat is a great place to while away the time when you're not stitching - lots to read, and great pattern ideas
Good luck ;)

Playing with Poppies

A little while ago I found a pattern for a crochet poppy, which is endorsed by the British Legion Poppy Appeal. Determined I would be ready for the Poppy Appeal this year, I bought the pattern, and have finally started to experiment with it. I changed the instructions slightly, Erssie suggests a double crochet stitch for the petals, but this looked very small when I did that, so I had a go with half trebles, and finally trebles. I think this looks best, though the pictures I've taken are either dark or glary!! Anyhow, it looks like I'll be making cashmerino poppies this year ;)

I used the pattern bought from Erssie, btw

If anyone knows of a good knitted poppy pattern I'd be very interested to see it ;)

Sunday? This must be Fleetwood!

No update yesterday, as promised we took the outlaws on their holidays, and had the rest of the day at Fleetwood. It was a beautiful day, and because it was so early in the season, most of the folk that were out and about were locals. We got to walk along the beach and photograph some of my usual haunts, but sadly had cause to take a snap of where the pier used to be. There was a big fire last autumn that wrecked the derelict[but one lovely] pier, and all that now remains is a cordoned of pile of rubble. The views have changed, it's sad, and I felt old ;(

Where the pier used to be, taken from the promenade.

and from the beach.

Bob, [not wanting to be seen] looking for skimming stones

and walking up to the Mount. Just behind here is th e church where my parents were married.

To complete my trip down memory lane we took a quick trip to see if my grandparents house was still there. I used to spend all my summer school holidays there as a youngster, and it was great to see it still lived in, and cared for.

Saturday update

I'm late getting my CAL squares done this month, but at least they're done before the end of the month.

These are the 6" squares - coming together as a nice little collection now.

The 12" is a bit different from the usual - I quite enjoyed doing the intertwined circles in the middle ;)

Bob decided he needed to wash the windows this morning - and did really well till he got to the last one - the patio doors which he decided to attack with theh hose pipe. It was quite spectacular from the inside looking out, and I attempted to get a decent picture, but didn't do too well with that......

We managed to walk another 7.5 miles this morning, and I tried out the new walking boots. So sar, so good, it's beginning to look like I won't embarrass myself too much when we do our long weekend in August, walking the length of the Somme.

Tomorrow we're taking Bob's parents for a few days away [which isn't as charitable as it sounds - we're driving them there, and leaving them] but it does mean that I'll get a quick trip to my favourite seaside haunt on the way home. As long as I remember to pcak the camera and spare batteries, I'll take a couple of pictures to share. Have a good weekend ;)

A [not so] small finish

I finally managed to knit something for me - and when I've seen it completed, realised why I don't knit for myself very often - it's HUGE - looks like it's made for elephant woman! Worst of all, it fits ;(

Still, I enjoyed knitting something, just for fun, and it's got me off the idea, that I need to knit for me. It's a cropped cardi pattern from March 90 edition of Let's Knit, and it took just into the fourth ball of King Cole Smooth in shade 882, Pebble

Part six ;)

Sorry, it's been a while[again]! No excuse, other than I've been stitching ;)

I finished off part six of the Spanish sampler, and still really enjoying this piece.

I've also done Helen's portion of the freebie round robin that we're doing over at Hadenmaiden's House and the back/sleeves of the holiday cardi that I'm knitting for myself - that won't be long before it's finished, so I'll skip the progress pic and just go for the finished article when it's done ;)

work was Monday/tuesday this week, so I have the latter half of the week to do *stuff* - today being something of a clear-out day. I just hope that I on't see a not so full cupboard as some sort of challenge, and just have to fill it with new stash!

I almost forgot to say, Bob managed his Two Peaks fine on Saturday, and is hoping he'll have a go at the full Three Peaks of Yorkshire in another couple of weeks.

Up hills and down again

Yesterday saw James and Garan doing the Yorkshire three peaks. I was logistical support, and Bob did about half of the walk with them. It was a lovely day, weatherwise, after worrying all week that heavy rain was forecast, and they completed the challenge in a little over 8 hours, so well within the 12 hour limit.

Here they are all set for the off and raring to go, about 6.30 am

Almost half-way, having conquered Pen y ghent

and here after 24.5 miles (39.2km) over 5,000 feet (1,600 metres) of climbing - can't believe that I missed them at the end, as they both ran past the car before I could get the camera out!

Almost caught up!

So, I completed part 5 of Spanish Sampler - it's lovely stitching this piece, so relaxing. All packed away for the week so I can get up to date again with the knitting, then off on part 6 next weekend, and hopefully make a start on the ABC sal

I sent off a few letters to Postpals this weekend - there are so many there who'd appreciate a cheery note, just wish I had the resources to post to all of them!

A *Me* day ;)

My other half went off early yesterday morning to do a longish walk on the Yorkshire Moors. I wasn't needed as logistical support this time, so treated myself to a *me* day. Didn't do any jobs[except wash the bedding, which I couldn't resist as it was such a lovely blowy day] but pootled about with the computer, knitting patterns and a bit of stitching.
I finally started knitting something for myself [it was on my to do list last year, but kept getting pushed to the bottom of the list, and never even got started!]. Might post a picture once I've done a bit more.
Also made a start on part 5 of the Spanish sampler, which I should manage to finish today, all being well, and kitted up the Gazettte ABC sal that we're getting started with at Hadenmaiden's house.
Just for good measure, I had a couple of hours on the family tree, and managed to link my tree to another that I've been trying to *relate* to for ages.
All in all a most productive day.
Happy weekend, folks - hope it's a good one for you, too