Round up of the year

Well hello.  I hope you all had a good Christmas and that you are eagerly awaiting the new year.  In fact new decade.  Can you honestly believe that 20 years have passed since the millennium? - all that cyber panic which turned out to be nothing.  This coming year promises to be an interesting one in more ways than one. How it will all pan out remains to be seen.

This past year has been a busy one for us.  Travelling back and forth to France to help out at the Chateau, appearing briefly on TV - series two and three, some good holidays, watching our grandchildren grow not only in size but in confidence, and a few sad notes too where we bid farewell to friends old and new.  This is life and we must seize the day, she says with her fingers crossed behind her back.

The year ahead promises lots more travelling - pastures new, meeting old friends, plus more of the same as we continue to help bring life back into the out buildings at La Ruche.  Exciting times.

A look back on Ravelry shows I had a productive knitting year too:

The finally tally was - 1 mans sweater - 1 ladies fair isle yoke cardigan - 3 shawls - 1 child's summer top - 4 hats - 41 hot water bottles - 1 child's cardigan - 1 child's sweater - 1 hooded scarf - 2 cowl - 1 pair child's slippers - 12 pairs of socks - 1 crochet blanket (which will be done by year end)

Those socks - I'm pretty pleased with all of these and happy to report that they are being worn by their receipients.. At some point I'll make some for me!!

The Hedgerow Yarns Advent Calendar for 2019 - this I plan on making into a shawl, most probably the Linus shawl

That just about wraps it up for 2019, just the leftovers to eat and the crochet blanket to finish and then it will be 2020.  Wishing you all a very Happy New year in advance.  Take care and thanks again for reading


Sue xx

Winter rains, winter blues

The winter rains have been relentless.  Grey and sullen skies.  Big splashy puddles.  Soggy gardens.  Miserable faces. Wet coats and drippy umbrellas.  Frankly I have had enough. Bring me cold, sunny, frosty days.  Not rain and fog.  Do you get the picture?  I'm not happy with the weather right now.  I want to get out and feel the sun on my face, not scurry around trying to keep everything dry.  Can you tell I'm fed up? Ok enough.

There are some bright spots. My Advent yarn calendar is continuing to bring joy each morning.  Some lovely colours, especially when you see them all together. This is the first 14

Last weekend we had the youngest grandchildren to stay and they help with decorating the tree and the Christmas cake - which is a bit sprinkles heavy!!

We then went on to make vanilla cookies

and some spiced cookie dough which we ended up cooking and decorating on the Sunday

Needless to say they enjoyed themselves and took most of them home with them! Saves our waistlines

I am progressing well with the granny square, Jess saw my progress (below) and asked if I would make it into a blanket for her.

its amazing how fast it grows

I'm enjoying working on this for a change but need to get my December socks finished.

I think I am more or less ready for Christmas, just the food shop to do and a couple more presents to wrap.  I need to freshen up the greenery which necessitates a walk - if only it will stop raining. Thank you so much for reading and commenting on the blog again this year. I will pop in before the end of the year with a round up of my 2019 knitting projects and a final look at all those advent mini skeins.
Have a wonderful Christmas and very best wishes to all and especially to those whose Christmas will be different this year for one reason or another.


Take care Sue xx

Yarny advent

I am really enjoying my Advent calendar from Hedgerow Yarns.  At first I thought some of the skeins a little bland but when you see them all together they really look great.  Here are the first 7 days

Day 8 and 9 looks like this

I finished the "nothing else to knit" shawl

no idea why its side ways and cast on the December socks which is now at the heel flap stage.  

I'm trying to get to grips with crochet, I actually made two, no idea if I will remember how to start again once I get back to it

and made these for a little girl of our acquaintance, which I need to get in the post today

AND I really need to start Christmas shopping...….. where are you at on that front?  We have the grandkids more or less sorted but as for the parents ……… its an uphill slog.  Still the sun is out and I'm going to forage for greenery to make a wreath.  Have a good day xx

Yarn treats and some knitting

This year I decided to treat myself to a Yarn Advent Calendar from Hedgerow Yarn, ordered back in the early summer its been hiding in the cupboard to void temptation.  I look forward to seeing all 25 of the 10 gram mini skeins then deciding what to make with them.

The November socks got finished whilst I France, these have been given to Rebecca.  I took grey and the black fleck yarn with me to make Gus a couple of cowls which took no time at all.  As I fid it hard just to sit in the evenings without my hands doing something I cast on a simple Grain shawl from Tincanknits - all garter stitch and you just plan your own use of the colours you have.  This will just be my go to project when I have nothing else to do.

I sorted yarn this morning for a pair of slipper socks for Annabelle (friend of Jess) and the December socks.  My friend Manda is calling in this afternoon for a chat, knit and tea so I plan on asking her to get me started on some granny squares as she's the queen of crochet. I'm not sure if I mentioned that was going to be my monthly project for 2020.  So watch this space.

Travellers return

No sooner were we back from Wales and we headed off out to France - just long enough to do the wash and catch up with the little ones.

This last two weeks has been another round on the gite for the men, Dave was back, and the old bendy floor joists were removed and new ones fitted along with a wooden floor in the lounge area.  On top of that during week 2 the fosse (septic tank) for the gite was fitted, a parking area and slightly widened driveway achieved - all in torrential rain.  There was mud everywhere.  Stress levels were high with 8 guests this last weekend.  If I tell you they were still rolling the base layer to the drive in the dark on Friday evening you can imagine what it was like.  Fortunately all the guests took it in good part and came prepared. Hopefully some dry weather and the top dressing will make everything look a whole lot smarter for this coming weekends guests.

Whilst all this outside work was going on, Rebecca and I were working in the garden during week 1 - lifting the dahlias and clearing the veg garden and borders, raking leaves, stacking wood. We also moved some of the smaller items from the Little Brocante inside as we didn't want them spoiling in the damp.  There is now a cute little shop under the stairs in what will eventually be a cloakroom.  The candles and hot water bottles are proving to be very popular which is good to know.

Week 2 we readied the house for Christmas - stair garland, door wreaths and shopped and decorated a 2.5m tree in the salon. Filled pots with hellebore and hyacinths

We managed to get out for  a good walk the first Sunday though it was a foggy day but it was good to stretch out some of the aching limbs.  As I said they have had so much rain recently and the river levels are running very high, over the bank in places.  So different from the placid river where people were walking along the top of the weir in the height of the heat wave.

We ended our visit with lunch out and a visit to the fun fair in Beaumont.  I can tell you its years since I last went in a dodgem car and possibly one I'll not repeat; what with the son in law and husband in cars with the boys and with my daughter driving.  Its scary bumpy stuff.