Oops!!!!

Luckily the lad that did this got away with just a few cuts and bruises, and even more luckily my neighbour's car wasn't in their drive!

Going dotty......

I had nothing to do

on this wet afternoon

but to settle down and

knit me some rows

Leaning very heavily on Rod Stewart's 'You wear it well'. What else is a girl to do when its raining and you can't get out in the garden.

I turned this sample

into this jacket

Concert train rolls on.....

last night we headed back down to Wembley to see John Mayer in concert with our youngest and her friend Gemma. They are big Mayer fans having first encountered him when they were at Uni in Georgia USA.

 
To say Peter and I felt old was an understatement, there were a few silver tops in the audience but on the whole I would guess that the average age was late 20's.  We have seen John several times in the past usually in the presence of Eric Clapton, and will see him again in a months time when we go to the Crossroads Guitar Festival in Chicago.

I'm looking forward to a quiet weekend, hopefully catching up on some sleep. There are a few jobs to do in the garden.  The rest of the compost needs to be sieved and moved, but I'm a bit wary as the other day Peter was breaking up the heap and uncovered a rats nest, complete with babies!!  No sign of mum though, I'm sure the cats have removed all evidence by now but I'm taking no chances.  The bean and courgette plants are ready to go in as are the tomatoes, so as you can see plenty to do, just hope that the weather is kind.

Whatever you are doing this weekend enjoy.

Perfect Mix

That’s what this weekend has been, beautiful weather, gardening and concerts.

Friday evening we whizzed down to London - Wembley Arena to be precise to see Eric Clapton & Steve Winwood, a brilliant concert as usual, made even better by them playing Forever Man, we have been going to see Eric Clapton for the last 18 years and this is the first time he has done this number, my evening was made

Saturday I spent the morning gardening whilst my crazy husband and youngest went cycle training, they did 74 miles in the heat. They are doing the Norwich 100 in aid of the British Heart Foundation on 6 June so please everyone dig deep and sponsor them - http://original.justgiving.com/rachelspeechley

Saturday evening we journeyed up to Birmingham to see Rod Stewart at the NIA, who knew Birmingham had so many arenas! Needless to say we went to the wrong one (as did many others in our defence, gave the car park attendants a laugh) we ended up with 30 mins to spare for getting something to eat, ended up with pie and chips! To say it was stressful was an understatement. The concert however made up for it. Rod at his best, only complaint was the temperature in there, have these places not heard of aircon!!!

Sunday we decided to take it easy, 2 late nights really take their toll, must be getting old or something! Pottered about in the garden for the morning, then had a leisurely lunch in the shade, followed by an even more leisurely pot of tea and chat under the apple trees, it really was too hot to do much else. I did plant a few more rows of seeds once the sun was off the veg plot. After a BBQ dinner, pork kebabs with cous cous and spinach (from the garden) salad, we watched an Audience with Michael Buble – stupid questions but the singing was good.

So all in all a great weekend, as I said the perfect mix.

Your opinions would be appreciated

The other day I was discussing with a friend the merits of hand knitted items versus shop bought, in particular children/baby clothes. 

What we'd like to know is do you love or loathe hand knits? 

If you loathe them, what is it you don't like?

If you love them, what fibre content do you like, acrylic, wool, bamboo, silk, alpaca, the list is endless?

If you go for the fancier yarns are you prepared to wash them properly? Hand washing rather than just chucking them in the washing machine.

Are you prepared to pay the price premium for a hand knitted item?  It is very difficult to put a true worth on a hand knit, especially if you consider the cost of the yarn, time it takes to knit, though you are getting something unique, even if the knitter has slavishly followed the pattern.

We'd really value your comments good or bad, because at the end of the day no knitter wants to waste their time, when they could be knitting something more interesting.

Crazy Love revisited

Last night's Crazy Love concert was tremendous, Michael was on top form, he's a real showman and really knows how to 'work' an audience. I don't think I'll ever tire of listening to him. The only disappoinment for me was that he didn't sing 'Lost' which is my all time favourite but then it does make me cry so I guess its just as well he didn't.

 He did a very go impression of Michael Jackson and Mrs Jones was happy that he sang Me and Mrs Jones - and Baby Jones seemed to enjoy itself jiggling along to the music.  At one point when Michael was in the middle of the crowd a pair of knickers sailed through the air, I hope the thrower hadn't been wearing them as it was a tad chilly when we got out!!  They've released some more dates for the UK and I must say I'm tempted to go again, hang the cost! If you get the chance to go and see him you'll really enjoy it, I promise.

Our concert season continues next week with Eric Clapton and Steve Winwood at Wembley and Rod Stewart at the LG Arena.  It's a busy time all round.

I have a day to myself today - the husband and youngest are off cycle training, they have their 100 mile charity cycle ride in 3 weeks.  If anyone would like to sponsor them its in aid of the British Heart Foundation, please let me know.  I'm now off to weed the drive and sort out some hanging baskets, I can get them planted up if I can't yet hang them out. 

BTW it looks like we have Swallows nesting in the car port which means poop on my car!!  The Blue Tit family in the nesting box are very noisy, their poor parents must be worn out by the end of the day with all the feeding flights they are doing.  I also have a black bird that insists on digging up some plants that I have recently put in my throughs, any suggestions on how to stop it, short of posting the cat on permanent guard duty?

Sweet & Savoury

Jalapeno Cornbread

Chocolate Chip & Oat Cookies

Its been a busy morning and its only 8:30, I was up VERY early, so the washing is done and hung out, chicken cooked for a ceasar salad and a bit of baking done.  I'll more than likely flag later, though I'm hoping that Michael will spark me up!

The Blues...

Once upon a time there were

Three Bears..........

Daddy Bear

Mummy Bear

Baby Bear

The Bear Family

So this is what I've been knitting recently.  It's a pattern from a Simply Knitting Supplement called Beautiful Toys to Knit.  I don't normally go in for toy making as its a long and fiddly process, but I'm so pleased with how these turned out I'm tempted to make some more.

I also knitted this little cardigan in some charity shop aran yarn that I had in my stash. Such a quick and easy knit, its called Baby Picchu and its a free pattern from Berroco.  I will definately knit this again.

I'm now knitting something for me its called Ethereal from the Sublime Book #622. I'm knitting it in a James Brett Marble yarn in brown

this should keep me going until Baby Jones puts in an appearance (3.5 weeks or thereabouts to go) and I can then start some more baby knits once I know what we have!

Crazy Love...

On Friday we are off to the NIA in Birmingham to see the lovely Michael Buble, to say I'm excited is an understatement.  If this show is as good as the one I saw at the O2 a few years back then we are in for a good night.  Both daughters are coming with us and I'm hoping that Baby Jones doesn't decide to put in an early appearance! 

A full report of the event will follow

What a difference a day makes

or so it seemed this weekend, Saturday was wet and cold and yesterday sunny and reasonably warm. 

Saturday required me to cosy up in front of the fire with my knitting, whilst Sunday had me working my butt off in the garden. 7 hours we toiled and I have the aching limbs to prove it, but the satisfaction of a job well done.

Pictures to follow shortly of the knitting and the garden, now off to cook a curry

While I wait.......

for the rain to stop this long weekend I have finished off Little Sailor, as predicted I ran out of yarn but managed to get short sleeves knitted, here is the finished project.  I think it looks just as cute, it's blocking at the moment hence the tea-towel!

I'm hoping to get out in the garden today, though it will be very wet as it rained most of Sunday, as I type the sky is clearing and the sun is out, but for how long as not 5 minutes ago it was pouring with rain.

Friday's spa day at Belton Wood was lovely, very relaxing, though my nail varnish from the manicure is peeling off, I need to go and find my remover.

Saturday was the start of the village pub's annual beer festival, we had friends Judy and Stephen down for the day, the men went drinking, us ladies sat and chatted over a cup of tea