For number two grandson and adventures with a crochet hook

I haven't been too lazy on the knitting front recently and have finished two jackets for our 8 month old number two grandson.

The first one is an aran pattern from Sirdar. I chose Rowan Pure Wool DK in navy blue for this and I've made it in the 12 - 18 months size. Number two is a big lad for his age and there's no point in making something he will grow out of within a few weeks.

Navy Aran Jacket

I took this second photo to show the pattern detail. The colour is a true navy, as in the first piccie, not this paler colour!!

Cable detail

Secondly I made a little jacket in Corilana from Black Hills lovely friendly shop in Henley on Thames. The jacket is 1 - 2 years and I think it looks enormous but we'll see.....

I want to get some more of this yarn to make a hat to go with it. I think it should be nice and cosy for the autumn. Of course if I'm right and it is too big it may be autumn 2012!!!!

This afternoon I've been nursing my oh so sore back. Having spent yesterday staggering around as little as possible with a walking stick. I saw the osteopath this morning and although it's better than it was, it's still quite sore. I decided to spend some time playing with some yarn and a crocket hook. I have been following Suz's inspirational blog and tried her spike stitch motif.

Suz has started a spike stitch group on ravelry with a Friday project. The first is to make a cushion cover using a spike stitch design and she has given instructions.

This is my first attempt............

My first spike stitch motif

My poor camera seems to be having an attack of taking out of focus piccies. Think I need to put a new one on my Christmas list!!

Off to do some more knitting...........

43 and not out!!!!!

Today is Mr Dreaming's and my 43rd wedding anniversary. Where did the time go? Seems like only yesterday we took our vows in the village church - a day of mixed emotions as it was only weeks after my father died suddenly. He was only 47!  However happiness won the day and I always remember it fondly. It's amazing how lavish modern weddings have become. Our wedding service was held at 2.00 p.m. We had a buffet reception at a local hotel and then left about 6.00 p.m. to drive down to Cornwall for our honeymoon, staying the night at Axminster! I made my own dress and also the bridesmaid's dress! I don't remember the total cost but nothing near the costs couples incur these days. We never felt hard done by.

There now - don't I sound ancient!!!!

And the fashion? Well - it was the sixties!!!!

Rain rain.............

It's a distinctly soggy day today. We have been without significant rain for so long now that I feel I shouldn't complain.....but.....wouldn't it be good if it only rained at night and the sun shone every day?

We have house guests at the moment. Our daughter, son-in-law and grandson have gone to Brittany on their hols and we have the cat and the dog to look after. Having had pets for years and years we now have none and we don't plan to replace them at the moment as our split life style doesn't really suit itself to pet owning. I do miss them, though.

So for two glorious weeks we have Bovril, the cat, and Thomas, the dog. Bovril largely keeps himself to himself. He tends to sleep most of the day with a few food breaks between napping sessions. He is a glorious black cat, and unusually has not a single white hair.

Thomas dog does everything other than keep himself to himself. He is a nine month old Chocolate Labrador. He has a wonderful, loving personality and is in to everything that isn't shut away!!! Some jobs are almost impossible to do. Sweeping the terrace was interrupted when he pinched the broom and took it off up the garden to play with. Luckily the broom survived minus a couple of tufts of bristles.

Oh, and you can see on this photo just how parched the lawn is now! That's why I don't want to grumble too much about the rain!

While we were in France I managed to finish knitting a pair of socks. I haven't blocked them yet. I don't have the sock shaped inserts to go in them while they dry. Yesterday I managed to download a template and Mr Dreaming is going to see his friend who has some sheet plastic. Once the plastic has been cut I shall get on with blocking them. It's not a priority at the moment as it's hardly the time of year for woolly socks!

I also made a crochet bag and when I got back I lined it, as instructed , with oil cloth. However I'm not happy with it and I shall try again with some ordinary fabric with some very stiff interfacng. I'm hoping that it will retain its shape better then - but we'll see!

Since I've been back I have been rather naughty and indulged in a wool buying fest! Oh dear - not good for the account balance!!!!

I'm sure you'd like to see what I've got.......

Firstly some lovely Drops Fabel (the link takes you to the skd site and you need to click on Garn Studio Yarns) in a variety of colours to make a blanket for my daughter to use when she feeds the baby during the night. The babe is due in January, so she'll need to keep warm.

Secondly some lovely muted shades of shetland wool - all dyed with natural dyes by Llynfi Textiles. These were on offer in the July issue of Country Living magazine.

Thirdly some blue and pink wool from The Knitting Goddess. Thomas decided he would try to help by having a go at winding one of the skeins - that's why it ended up as a ball - and no, he didn't manage to wind it himself - and it took me 45 minuted to untangle it!!!!!!!

And.....lastly.....some gorgeous bright skeins of Laughing Yaffle's Tiny Temptations. They haven't any Tiny Temptations at the moment, but will have more in the future!

I've obviously got a lot of knitting to do!!!!!!!

Back Home

We are now back in the UK having had a good trip away. The sun shone, the temperature rose to uncomfortable levels and that limited what could be achieved outdoors. We also had visitors - our son, daughter-in-law and number 2 grandson. Number 2 gs was six and a half months old and an utter delight. It felt really good being able to hold him and cuddle him, and to drink in his scent. I'd forgotten just how the scent of a baby has such a strong affect. We felt we really got to know him during their visit.

Bet you can't do this!

Still in his pjs - enjoying an early morning cuddle with his grandma.

A very happy and contented baby, he has a ready smile and his giggles melt the hearts of anyone who met him. Of course, the French are very family orientated and so he basked in all the admiration. We went for lots of walks and had a lovely picnic by the lake in Bagnoles de l'Orne.

Playing by the lake in Bagnoles

Bagnoles Lake

 We also visited St Frambault - known for it's fantastic floral displays.

Enjoying his first ever ice cream

After they had left we piled in the car and headed west for a couple of nights staying in beautiful Vannes in southern Brittany.

Vannes Town

The old town entrance

The waterfront

On our second day we ventured further west to Concarneau. It was our first visit here - so we had plenty see!

Old town

We loved the planting down the middle of the dual carriage way along the front. I guess these wouldn't have won the Tour de France!!!! Great fun, though!

I also managed to get on with a couple of projects, but I'll tell you about these next time!!!!

Take care!