Christmas is Coming - faster than I can deal with it

Christmas is coming - whether I'm ready or not.  I've been playing my Christmas music to get me in the mood and I've got the decorations out from storage - just need to get them out of the boxes and actually up now.

I have made a new decoration for Christmas this year.

A crochet Christmas Tree.  It's quite big - about 12 inches tall and the plan is to use it as a centre piece for the table.

I'll maybe decorate it with beads or some fancy yarn.

I had hoped to be able to write up the pattern but I'm that short of time, I don't think it's going to happen this year.  If I start in the New Year I may be ready for next Christmas!

I'm nearing the end on a few projects, which is so encouraging. I need to get these done to feel like I'm moving forward.

In terms of projects actually finished, I had 3 grammes of sock yarn leftover from previous projects and I can't bear the thought of just throwing it out, so I made a miniature shawl - modelled here for us by one of my plastic polar bears.

So, it's probably cheating to count this as a finished object - but at the moment, getting anything finished seems to be a challenge.

I'm in decorating mode at the moment. Having finished the hall and stairs, I set to work on the bathroom.  It's gone from lime green to pink - and looking good.  I've got to fit the carpet tomorrow - and then it'll be done.  I've got my eye on Eve's bedroom next ! - no wonder I'm not getting any Christmas stuff done.

And finally, on my morning walk, look who I spotted, watching me walk by.

I stopped and chatted before continuing on my way.

On My Walk Today...

On my early morning walk today I saw an owl.  I've only ever seen them in zoos and places like that.  This one flew past me and perched briefly on a branch before flying off again. 

It was 6.45am and the sky was only just lighting up, the sun hadn't risen so I only saw the owl in silhouette, but there was no mistaking it for anything else. 

I couldn't tell what type of owl it was, but as tawny owls are the most common in Britain, I assume it was that. 

What a magical start to the day - it made me smile so much. 

Farewell Snow

At last the snow and ice have gone - we're back to the usual cold and damp weather - I can't believe how glad I am to see the rain again.

Here's a lovely Lucy Grossmith picture to remind us that Spring is not that far off.

The picture is called bird song.

This and that

Now that Grace has finished school (for ever!) we have plenty of time to sit around and watch films!! This past week we have had mammoth sessions watching the extended version of the Lord of the Rings Trilogy.

The extended version is so much better than the theatre version but it takes a lot of stamina to get through all 6 discs.
Plenty of knitting was done whilst watching but yesterday was not very productive. It took three attempts to get the first row of the collar correct for Thomasina. I thought I would have the whole collar almost complete but it was not to be.

Needless to say, Eve is not a happy bunny because we get to sit around all day knitting and watching films and she has to go to school and spend her evenings doing homework. Only 2 weeks to go to the school holidays – and then they’ll both be under my feet.

To try and keep herself busy, Grace has been crocheting a hat, maybe she’ll let me post a pic when she’s finished it. Eve has started knitting Glint by Kim Hargreaves from Nectar.

It’s a great pattern for beginner knitters. Grace has also bought wool to make one and I might even get around to making it myself one day.

Cricket on the TV today, the Ashes has started. It would be nice to sit and watch it all day (as our lord and master is doing!) but I’d feel too guilty if I didn’t do some jobs around the house. Hopefully a few hours a day can be spared, and of course, plenty of knitting can be done. My aim is to get Thomasina finished by the weekend, although I may not have any nice buttons to complete it in my button box. I forgot to buy some when I was in Liverpool this week.

…and finally, after over two year’s absence, we have house sparrows back in our garden.

I don’t know where they went to but all of a sudden we have flock of 9 or 10 who are rapidly emptying all the seed feeders. It’s very entertaining watching them squabbling for position – wonderful to have them back – long may they stay.