Finished object: my so called scarf

Occasionally, just very occasionally, I manage to slip in a bit of knitting into this blog...
Recently I have managed to stop feeling guilty about the little bit of knitting that I do and the lack of finished projects. I do enjoy knitting, it relaxes me, that's far more important than the fact that some projects take me months, years to finish. It's all about the journey, not just the destination.


I first saw this scarf-let being knit by Liz, a friend whom I know through knitting and sewing groups. I loved the texture of the stitch, it doesn't look like knitting at all, and thought it'd make a good present. It took me a while to get the hang of the stitch but once I did, it was very straightforward. As it's a present for I.'s teacher, I let her choose the buttons - not my choice, but then the taste of a nine year old and a 37 year old don't always match!


Excuse the summery outfit with the wintry scarf...

Strangely enough I couldn't imagine knitting it for myself but the wool is very soft (more info on Ravelry) and the scarf actually very snug and warm. I bought two balls and only used one, so I may just have to make another one the same. Although by the looks of the variations in the colours, I suspect with this yarn no item is the same.

Cast on for Shaun the Sheep tonight - baby due in 3 months, so I had better get going!

What happened to this week?

It's Thursday afternoon but my brain hasn't caught up yet and feels it's still only Tuesday. It's the last few days of term for the kids and for the first time I feel they've really crammed the summer term full of activities this year, for I. especially as it's her last term at this school. A whole day at her new school, the opening of the new garden at N.'s reception/year 1 class, including a little tea party, the whole school trip to the museum of East Anglian Life. Top that with lots of happenings at work (finding a new translator to start immediately is beginning to resemble mission impossible), and you can imagine sleep seems an unnecessary luxury.

The highlight of this week though was the arrival of this:

After 2 1/2 months without a valid passport, it feels very liberating to know that I can just drive to Harwich and get on the boat. And as mum is having the results of her MRI scan next week on Thursday, the first thing I did after signing for the registered post parcel, was go to Stena Line and book myself on the ferry for next week. I haven't been to Holland since January and I can't wait...

Fruit cake muffins

These are from the WeightWatchers July issue. They looked really nice, so I made them tonight to take to B.'s for dessert tomorrow evening. The ingredients include raisins, blueberries, cranberries, a grated apple and some ginger (apart from the usual flour/sugar/butter), and pumpkin seeds for the topping. They were ever so easy to make - just put all ingredients in a bowl, mix thoroughly and put into cases. They smell great too. I've been very restrained and not tried one yet! (having had a double caramel Magnum earlier may have something to do with that...)

I must make more of an effort to post cooking pictures. I. is really into baking right now and we bake something at least twice a week. On Monday we made chocolate chip/pecan nut cookies, which have seen us through the week. Next Tuesday we're making strawberry cupcakes...

Mental note to self

Do not hoover the stairs when your knitting is on it.

(ever wondered how long a piece of string is? It's verrrrrry long when you have to pull it out of the hoover nozzle).