The Wool Palace

In lieu of knitting content, you get photos

Half term in Somerset is two weeks long.  Who knew?  Not me.

Last week we went mushroom hunting in the hills behind the village

and admired the autumn colours.

Grim Reaper and 'Lady Vampire' went to the village Halloween dance.

At the weekend we went walking near Bossington.

Today we are going to have afternoon tea, courtesy of Sam's baking efforts.

As for the rest of the week - I really don't know.

As you may have gathered, I'm on a bit of a break at the moment.  Half term is here so things are busy.  My Carpal Tunnel has reared its ugly head as well so computer and knitting time is being limited until my hands feel better.

The buttons in the Ally Pally post were from a seller called The Button Box.  They don't have a website but if you are interested, email me and I will send you the details of their stall in Covent Garden.

I cheated and wrote this on Thursday when I was at a loose end.  Today I will be running round like a headless chicken getting ready for a job interview and having a driving lesson.

48 things you could care less about

1. First name? Mary.

2. Were you named after anyone? My mother and I have the same first and middle names.

3. When did you last cry? This morning I welled up a little while reading a piece about an improved Ofsted report for a local primary school. 

4. Do you like your handwriting? Yes.

5. What is your favorite lunchmeat? The word lunchmeat makes me feel vaguely nauseous.

6. If you were another person would you be friends with you? Maybe. I might think I was a bit moody.

7. Do you have a journal? You're reading it.

8. Do you still have your tonsils? No.  They were whipped out when I was 6 or 7.  I went to a Catholic hospital and the first thing I was given to eat after the operation was porridge.  My sister went to a different (Catholic) hospital and was given ice cream.  Life can be so unfair.

9. Would you bungee jump? No, no, no.  If you tried to do it while I was around I would start to cry.

10. What is your favorite cereal? Bleuch - and that isn't the name of a cereal.

11. Do you untie your shoes when you take them off? Depends on the shoes.

12. Do you think you are strong? Average, I suppose.

13. What is your favorite ice cream flavor? I'm not that bothered about ice cream.  Probably a good vanilla if I had to choose.

14. Shoe size? 40

15. Red or pink? Red

16. What is the least favorite thing about yourself? My sulks.

17. Who do you miss the most? My sisters.

18. Do you want everyone to send this back to you? If they feel the need.

19. What color pants, shirt and shoes are you wearing? Jeans, black jumper (Tubey actually).  No shoes in the house!

20. Last thing you ate? I have in front of me a bowl of chick pea and pasta soup, served with a little chilli oil and parmesan, and some rosemary topped focacia - leftovers from last night's dinner.

21. What are you listening to right now? Radio 4, my daily soundtrack.

22. If you were a crayon, what color would you be? I can never think of the answer to this type of question.

23. Favorite smell? Lavender.

24. Who was the last person you talked to on the phone? Discounting work calls, Toby, asking if the insurance cover note for his van had arrived yet.

25. The first thing you notice about people you are attracted to? Their mouth.

26. Do you like the person you stole this from? How could you not like Kris?

27. Favorite drink? Red wine.

28. Favorite sport? Running

29. Eye color? Blue/green

30. Hat size? Do hats have specific sizes?

31. Do you wear contacts? No

32. Favorite food? Rice in any shape or form makes me very happy.  If it's accompanied by fish, all the better.

33. Scary movies or happy endings? Happy endings. I can't even watch trailers for scary films.

35. Summer or winter? Winter - there's no pollen.

36. Hugs or kisses? Depends who's offering.

37. Favorite dessert? Crème brûlée.

38. Who is most likely to respond? I don't think it requires a response.

39. Least likely to respond? I'm pretty sure Dawn doesn't do memes.

40. What books are you reading? Sleep With Me, Joanna Briscoe and Good Faith, Jane Smiley.

41. What's on your mouse pad? An advert for my work's computer leasing company.

42. What did you watch last night on tv? Family Brat Camp, Goldplated (not convinced - probably won't bother next week) and a repeat of The Apprentice (US version).

43. Favorite sounds? Horses going past in the morning.

44. The rolling stones or beatles? The Rolling Stones, 1970s version.

45. The furthest you've been from home? When home was New Zealand, England.  When home was England, New Zealand.

46. What's your special talent? I'm a pretty good cook.

47. Where were you born? Oxford, England.

48. Who sent this to you? I stole it from Kris.

Autumn colour

It's been grey and wet here pretty much all week.  Even the horses have on their raincoats.

Let's brighten things up with a look at my lovely Ally Pally colour shall we?

Lovely Lorna's Laces from Get Knitted.  Vera, Baltic Sea and Black Purl.

Also from Get Knitted, Koigu KPPM in a rather Halloweeny colourway.

Cherry Tree Hill had their own stand this year.  I got one skein of the Potluck sock yarn, in the Water colourway.

Fabulous Kid Mohair/Merino laceweight from Touch Yarns.  I also got a couple of their scarf kits, which are great for exchanges.

Last year my father requested a knitted slipover, as he finds them hard to get hold of in the shops.  I bought a great pattern from the Wensleydale Longwool Sheep Shop, which has sat unused for the past 12 months.  This year, I went ahead and bought the yarn to knit it.

This stuff is wonderful, so soft and such a beautiful sheen.  I can't wait to start knitting.  Even the fact that I am knitting a slipover for a 6ft 4in man isn't putting me off.

I also bought these absolutely fabulous buttons.  No plans for them, I just love them.

I bought a couple of skeins of silk from Habu but the photo came out so blurry, there's no point in showing you.  You'll just have to wait until I start knitting them up.

Which could take some time.

Digital age

A picture heavy post of Ally Pally will be coming soon but first, Sunday was an auspicious day that cannot go unreported.

Sam has made it into double figures.  Go 10 year old boy!

Here is his demonstrating his new found grace and maturity, accompanied by cake.

Aged 10, Sam has bigger feet than me, hands the same size and is already well over 5 foot tall.  A good job he only has one more year of primary school left,  as he's already in the largest size uniform.

The birthday boy requested pheasant but it was too early in the season, so we settled on some exemplary Exmoor beef, served rare, of course.  Birthday celebrations included a sleepover with friends from London, a long walk in the country and lots of playing around in muddy streams.

And plenty of cake.

Just a quick check in.  Having a manic week.  I am away for work until the weekend but will be at Ally Pally tomorrow (that's Thursday), so if you see me, please do say hello. 

Back after the weekend, hopefully with lots of lovely yarny goodness to show you.

PS.  My squares are in Noro Silk Garden, some that I had left in the stash after frogging from a previous project.  I will try and find out the shade number when I am back and less frazzled.

Gone awry

I said I wouldn't do it.

I know it will end in tears.

I don't like projects made of squares that need to be sewn together.

But these ones just look so pretty.

I can't stop.

Gone but not forgotten

I was taking out the compost yesterday afternoon when I heard a soft thud behind me.  I turned around to see a little wood pigeon fledgling in the flowerbed.  It had apparently fallen out of its nest in the tree above.

The children were naturally very concerned.  Following the advice, we left it for a few hours, then moved it to a safer place for the night.  Sadly, but not surprisingly, it didn't make it.

Josie was obviously feeling inspired after our visit to the pet cemetery at Dunster Castle.

Visibility enhancement

I've had a poorly girl at home with me for the last couple of days.  She has however, recovered enough to cook her own lunch, at her request.

When you are 8 years old, beans on toast is pretty exciting if you cook it yourself, although it does require total concentration.

I had pumpkin soup - and very nice it was too.

 

For Debi and any other interested parties; the yarn used in my now defunct Sock Wars socks is Schoelloer & Stahl Limbo Color,  Shade 2539.  Mine came from here, via a knitting show in Brighton.