Weekend family things

I am loving the comments that you are leaving at the moment. for those of you that don’t get snow stay tuned I think I may be able to help!!! I have finally dug the car out and the plow and a gritter reached us by about 1.30 pm so I have parked my car at the top of the drive. My DH has had to put his car down the hill in the village. It has started again now and we expect more overnight. Ho hum more digging for  the morning. Still, we have managed sledging and DH managed to get to the kennels and collect the dog. How so kennels for dog? I her you say. Well, we went away for our annual extended family break in the woods.

  

This our lodge after pretty snow on Friday evening. Very Christmassy don’t you think? We get together and eat and drink, swim, play and have fun. It goes by so quickly. We set off early to avoid potential poor weather and boy am I glad we did. We were fine up until the last few miles where it dumped a load of snow on us. It was frightening.

The journey home had been so lovely. We were glad to be home in one piece!! Other family members had not seen a flake travelling in the west  to W Yorks

  

So , this was part of the reason that I was away from my dear blog. This and my setting myself impossibly short deadlines for projects meant that I had little time. I did manage to fit in a visit to the Knit and Stitch show in Harrogate on Thursday. I really need someone at the end of the phone at such events to “talk me down” as I get so excited that I really think I am having some kind of attack.

There were so many lovely things, I just love this cushion!!!

This is beadwork which I have done in the past, I should put some pictures here. I had a lovely chat with the lady on this stall and the tatting circle stall. I learned to tatt in honour of my paternal Grandmother as I had already learned to crochet in honour of my Maternal Grandmother.

 Chatting is a major part of these events and the place was full of like minded mostly women (some had dragged along taken their husbands – why?) The above quilt was so inspirational and made from Liberty prints. Don’t you just want to eat it? Anyway I bought a few things, (some have gone to Santa) Got some gifts for friends and some Christmas projects so watch this space!!!

 

I have noticed that my sixtieth follower has joined recently and I would like to welcome every new person here and thank you all from the bottom of my heart. This whole blog project has given me so much. Both friendship and returning self confidence so thank you all, I owe you so much.

I am hoping now that things could get back to some kind of slower pace but its the school Christmas fete on Saturday so not much chance.!! I am making more puds.

Have any more tried them? Manda and Ruth have and I have LOVED seeing them all so different and with so many new ideas. A successful project I think. Bye for now, Back later with more stuff,

Lou

xx

Back again

Well how time flies and how life takes over. I have been crazy busy and lost track of my lovely blog and my friends. I plan to catch you up in the days to come. Can I just tell you that I am snowed in right now in a winter wonderland. Enjoy

Final Christmas decoration

 

Well here it is, if you can bear it, the final crochet sweetie holder. This one will hold whatever small sweeties that you have and the pattern can be found here. As you can see the layout has gone completely and horribly wrong. I have  deliberately left it like that to stand as a lesson to me of what happens when I go beyond my abilities as a techie.

 

Such is life!! I was reading Sue of the Quince tree the other day where she detailed a typical day. It read like something out of country homes magazine. If you are reading this Sue it gave me a warm feeling and something to aim for!! My day had, you see , somewhat contrasted with that day. Suffice to say it had involved dispatching mice that the dog had “played with” into the farmers field on a spade and washing her paws in the sink a lot. Today I am having a pre Christmas clean of the lounge, you know the kind, move the furniture and hoover until you sweat. Ah yes I know how to have a good time. Well I have rested enough so its back to the dust bunnies and dog hair for me.

Fog

     

Oh how I love it!!!!

From inside looking out it is safe and cosy.

 

I love the way that occasionally the sun starts to break through and that feels so positive, like anything can happen. I love the way that it creeps in, low and thick and spooky. I like to see it sit in the dips and low fields, the sun shining above.

Its a good job I do enjoy fog as we live on the very edge of the vale of York which is low and flat and fog collects there regularly, often not shifting for days. Now THAT feels claustrophobic but its not often. See, I even love that the geography of the area and the Science of fog let me see it often. If we had good thick snow on the ground I would love it even more.

 

I do however feel the need to explain  that my love of fog ends if either I or my loved ones have to drive in it or it is accompanied (as it was this morning) with ice. Which not even my hiking boots could cope with!!

Ferrero tree

UK terms

Round 1: ch2, 3dc in 2^nd ch from hook (3 dc)

Round 2 : *2dc in each st* repeat 3 times (6 dc), mm

Round 3 : *2dc in first st, 1dc in next st* repeat 3 times (9dc),

Round 4 : *2dc in first st, 1dc in next 2st* repeat 3 times (12dc),

Round 5 : *2dc in first st, 1dc in next 3st* repeat 3 times (15dc),

Round 6 : *2dc in first st, 1dc in next 4st* repeat 3 times (18dc),

Round 7 : *2dc in first st, 1dc in next 5st* repeat 3 time (21dc),

Round 8 : *2dc in first st, 1dc in next 6st* repeat 3 times (24dc),

Round 9 : dc 2 tog in each stitch round sl st into 1^st st. Fasten off.

Decorate with beads and yarn.

US terms

Round 1: ch2, 3sc in 2^nd ch from hook (3 sc)

Round 2 : *2sc in each st* repeat 3 times (6 sc), mm

Round 3 : *2sc in first st, 1sc in next st* repeat 3 times (9sc),

Round 4 : *2sc in first st, 1sc in next 2st* repeat 3 times (12sc),

Round 5 : *2sc in first st, 1sc in next 3st* repeat 3 times (15sc),

Round 6 : *2sc in first st, 1sc in next 4st* repeat 3 times (18sc),

Round 7 : *2sc in first st, 1sc in next 5st* repeat 3 time (21sc),

Round 8 : *2sc in first st, 1sc in next 6st* repeat 3 times (24sc),

Round 9 : sc 2 tog in each stitch round sl st into 1^st st. Fasten off.

Decorate with beads and yarn.

This is a super quick one. Next week is the last one and is a drawstring bag that could be used for anything so watch this space. Check out Flickr as more pictures are being added. Thank you Manda. And thank you  all  those who read and comment weekly you make my day and inspire me so much.

Fireworks and crafts

I saw some pictures that someone had taken of sparklers and realised that I would have to have a go too. Aren’t they effective?

We had a few modest fireworks too, followed by hotdogs and a fire in the pit that kept going out (wet logs apparently) so no marshmallows this time.

  On Saturday I went to my monthly craft class.

 

It is organised by a lovely lady In York. She is actually on the TV now and so a lot more people come to the class, some from al long way away. My friend Sara and I go together. I always feel creative and inspired when I return so I spent the afternoon making these.

 

They will have marshmallows in them eventually. All part of a hot chocolate Christmas hamper that I am making up for family. I started doing these a few years ago, a different one each year. So I am putting together mugs, really good drinking chocolate, homemade biscotti and marshmallows. There will be a whisk, a mini grater with attached nutmeg and a small brandy too. I have done a coffee , biscuits and jam one, a cheese lovers hamper. My Dad even turned some cheese boards for that one. I then go to town displaying them in  box and wrapping in cellophane. I feel a bit more connected to the giving process by doing them. You can buy them readymade in the shops just now but I relish the opportunity to be creative whenever I can. Do any of you do similar? Id love to hear your ideas if you do.

The things you do for your children.

T was supposed to be going to a party last night at school, games and such. All dressed up in Halloween garb. At the last minute it was cancelled. I realise that it could be down to a bad choice of day but it was mentioned that a lot of the kids thought that the party was “lame” and “for kids”. Well pardon me, at 12, THEY ARE KIDS!!!

So, T was gutted and I felt sad so………

Severed fingers and eyeball cakes.

 

Out of the garden pumpkin.

He dressed up as the Terminator and I think the evening was saved.

Back to the ferrero project, here is this weeks offering. By the way feel free to make these to sell. If anyone asks Tell them where the pattern can be found. Also, I feel that I should mention that the suggested hook size is just that, a suggestion. I crochet loose but with these things am a bit tighter so play around.

Also I would love to see what you make so show a picture here http://www.flickr.com/groups/crochet-ferrero/pool/

Pattern is here

UK terms

US terms