November knittin' notes

Well - that was a damp squib was it not!?

We had, as per normal, a bowl of trick or treater-sweets. I handed out one lot of sweets to a pair of the prettiest witch/pippi-long-stocking/type girls who sweetly chirped 'trick or treeeeeat' and then having selected a sweet or two chirped again 'thank you and happy halloweeeeeeen'

And that, as the saying goes, was that...... s'pose the torrential rain had something to do with the poor turn out.

We, did however light our celtic pumpkins, and quietly contemplated the turning of the seasons. Autumn is gently fading, leaves fall, the air is cooler by the day and winter is not that far off. Winter - winter is the beginning and not the end.

Any hoo.

I've been a knittin'. Frantic finger aching knittin'. 

Squash in any free moment type knittin'. Looky looky!

I started another (yes another..) shawlette. 

This ball of  wool had almost been two other shawlettes 

but at the last moment were frogged. 

I finally settled for this pattern and finished it a happy happy knitter.

For those who think it is the same one I did before - I promise it isn't, 

look below, the one I wear all the time (on the right)  is much orangy/browner, 

where as the new one is tooooo pink for me.... A gift for some one may be???

Who ever gets to wear it, hopefully they will love wearing them as much as me!!

Then, no sooner as one shawlette finished....another begins....

obsessed moi? 

This one is delighting me as the colour variations gently slide into each other 

giving the impression of pseudo-fairisle - yummy! 

Now, I have plans for this one, to make it a bit more girly than first impressions. 

Ooh - can't wait!

There are other things on the hook and the needles but sshhhhhh - they're S*E*C*R*E*T!!

Hey ho, really glad that this week is ending. It has been 'interesting' at work and all this seems to have a knock on effect on me and consequently my family. Not making me a happy bunny. I think this is why I am frantically knitting - it is a form of escapist therapy!!

Well - here's to November - lets make it a creatively good 'un :) hawthorn  xxxxxxxxxxx

Hawthorntime horrors

For Angela and C,

Hopefully a little inspiration to set off your Samhain mojo 

I trawled the internet and found some free templates. ** I've listed them below

With a little bit of scissor action and a lot of snippity bits left everywhere.

We now have a murder of crows cackling above our mirror.

A swarming colony of bats dashing across our wall.

Goulish faces watching our every move.

And skulls adoring our walls.

I've not quite finished, there are spiders and their webs waiting to go up and a few last touches.

AND!

Yesterday we bought two pumpkins -

Just think of the fun (and the soup says Himself and Eldest)

For the spider look HERE

For the Crows look HERE and HERE

For the goulish faces look HERE

For the bats look HERE

Thank you for your lovely comments about my last post, they are a delight to read :)

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The richness of autumnal shades

 I'd felt that our rather insipid summer had seamlessly drifted into autumn with out the usual bang fizz until we were out last Saturday and my eyes were invigorated by some gorgeous colours.

So, inspired to seek out more eye popping colour I wandered into the garden and was pleasantly surprised.

Reds 

Rhus typhina

American Blueberry 

Acid yellows

Hydrangea petiolaris

Rosa rugosa 

Oranges

Geranium sanguineum

Cotoneaster microphyllus

The last of the calendula

Purples

Akebia quinata - Chocolate Vine

All the colours of the season - makes it feel right to think about decorating the window in preparation of Samhain (Halloween). The boys are up for it and it does mean we can go and collect leaves and cut up card and legitimately make a mess!

To anonymous or not to annonny-mouse - that is the question*

Dear Anonymous - I took on board and I agree with what you said and you will have seen I was delighted to read your thoughts and have published them .

The reason I have that little phrase 'Sadly anyone signing anonymously will not be published'  is down to a few blog-readers who have written some unkind things and hide behind their anonymity. They don't take responsibility for what they say. Since adding that little phrase, the only 'anonymous' comments have been genuine .Blogger also do not allow you to remove the anonymous option.

I am not looking only for positive comments choosing to ignore anything I disagree with, I was just trying to prevent another vitriolic tirade. You can sign a name if you wish,once you have typed in your comments, by choosing the NAME/URL option (one higher than the anonymous option) it allows you to sign in - but if you still wish to remain anonymous that is your choice and please feel free to remain so :)

Poppy Cottage thank you for your comments - I got my name tags from - Woven Labels UK and they have some nice colour combinations and icons - my little ribbons came from the craft and hobby label option.

I've just collapsed at my desk with a throbbing knee - Youngest was desperate to go trick or treat-ing (or as he calls it trickle treating) and he wanted me to go with him.  Unfortunately I was supposed to be at work, however, thanks to a timely and suitably spooky power cut forcing us to close early - I managed to get home in time to help him into his ghoulish costume, paint his face and hobble off (complete with wig and suitable facial grimace) We went out with friends and saw many familiar families of monsters and mini-witches. Now, home after a suitable haul of sugary treasure, I am limping like a peg legged pirate (oo-argh me 'arties).

Any hoo - thought I would share with you a photo of my littlest darling........ in all his gory........ he's a sweet kid, really, no really!!

Well, two posts in one day - waffled enough now, will end here ..... got a bit of crochet to get on with :) 

Night all and blessings be on this night of all Hallow's Eve and tomorrow is a new day - 

Have a lovely Tuesday xxxxxx

*Apologies to Shakespeare for completely ruining his line (or was it Edward De Vere's?)

verdict and other waffle

I threw out a dilemma to you lovely lot and thanks to your suggestions -  the general consensus was the green has to go - funnily enough my least favourite colour is the yellow! But, I did get the feeling that - like me- you mostly agreed that the colour combination wasn't that brilliant - SO! That has given me the impetus to go ahead and choose 3 more colours. Oh the *hardship* of having to do that hehehehehe :)

Thanks Radish's mum for the link to the stripe maker - I see that Lovely Lady also was rather pleased to see that link too :) I will definitely go and have a play.

Thank you every one!

I'm also kinda excited - I ordered some labels to add to the blankets and crafty-things I am making and they arrived this weekend - it feels all grown up having things like this! ❤❤

The catnip 'meeses' - all catnipped up and suitably scented check out the new labels, they will be added to the hawthorn handmade part of my shop - I'm still coming to grips with my new laptop and apparently my website doesn't recognise it, so I am sorting that out too - oh deep joy at technology (and my apparent lack of knowledge of it- hah!)

Oh and before I forget - the promised pumpkin carving done by Eldest and a heartfelt samhain wish -

May the change into darkness bring you light

may your memories keep you strong

and remember the coming winter is the beginning of the year 

and not the end

Crochet advice please!

The last few days my hook has been red hot and my fingers feel quite burnt!  I've been making a soft soft babe blankie (but am unsure of the colours) As it grows I alternate liking it and loathing it.....

Looking at these pictures, I realise that the rather shocking pink and red background doesn't help either. In it's favour, I love the snuggly softness of it all but the colours....hmmmm what do you think? Be honest!

I tried taking a picture of the blankie on a neutral (sort of bleugh grey) colour to see if that helps but again, I can feel my brow furrowing....

I have to admit that the colours look dreadful on the computer, why is it red never comes out true? I think I might be ripping this back, but I will have to start the replacement one soon as babies don't wait for blankets to be finished!

Hmmmmm....... any way,  I am pleased with my string bags, I've been working away with these and am loving how they have turned out. I've also been tweeking and altering the pattern until I am happy.

In the spirit of the season we have been carving pumpkins and lighting candles and switching on lights.

This is Youngest's first ever effort - he's never really been interested in carving-his-own but this year he has done really well and he's chuffed to bits with his results.

Mine. Not keen on my efforts - not doing very well am I?!?!

Eldest has only just finished his, so the photos are still on the camera, will download them tomorrow, I'm rather tired - spent the entire day moving furniture (not brilliant with only one co-operative leg, two end of half term boys and years of rubbish and dust suddenly appearing as by magic every time a bookcase is moved - my vacuum cleaner is exhausted!)

Final bit of waffle - my old computer (aged and cantankerous) prone to over heating, absent-mindedness and of general grumpacious tendancies has finally been retired and I am now a proud owner of a brand new laptop (which is sooooo clever and quick that I am now the aged and cantankerous one) but it does mean I am able to update my photos and shop without fear of all my work just vanishing or only half appearing - a great relief!


All for now, off to bed,  night night - ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤ 

Bollywood montage part 2

More colourful antics from our weekend

On Saturday night fever and Sunday perambulations

It's lashing it down out there, I can barely see through the rain laced windows. The wind is howling around the house making whining sounds down the chimney.

Fortunately the fire is happily crackling away and I have my mug of Assam tea and my computer, as well as grumpy cat and soggy dog for company - lovely.

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It took until lunch time on Sunday before the house returned to some semblance of normality. I succumbed easily to persuasion from the boys as they pleaded that we leave our home still wearing it's brightly coloured decorations. 

A  shockingly cerise pink covered table  jostles for attention with a vivid red, yellow and black elephant throw. Both are adorned with purple and orange flowers all announcing their presence.

 The small table in the lounge looks resplendent in shades of gold and fuchsia while highly reflective charger plates of royal reds and purples sit in silent splendour.

All the little white lights Himself hung (and there were hundreds of them) are still there and seeing how dull and dark today is turning out to be, I think I just might go and switch them on to jolly up my morning!.......... Do you know, it has, it definitely has :)








The children at our party looked so cute, all dressed up and sparkly, either in turbans with 'rubies' and feathers or in saris and sequins. I know that they love dressing up, and it seems so do their parents!

Now, in the silence our my home with all my boys at work or school, I look back and think that Saturday went very very well.

And the winner of the adult cosplay? 

Himself! and as with tradition, the winner gets to select the theme for next year's party.........

 The theme? 

Drum roll please....................

The swinging 60's!

Just think of the flares, the hot pants, the midi skirts, the maxi dresses, the beards and the  sideburns and oh yes - the music!!

Ooohh bring it on! 

(well, may be NOT the hot pants :)  )

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On Sunday, once we'd rediscovered our house and put the vacuum cleaner and the dishes away, we donned our boots and coats and headed for the hills to our favourite woods up in the Dales. We felt refreshed after we yomped up the hill in record time and at the top we stopped for lunch and to get our heart rate back down to normal and our breathing less ragged. 

With all the rain we've been having lately, the rivers although not at their fullest were still swollen and the fields were quagmires pitted with deep hoof holes made by horses and cows.  We stopped at the river for a last mug of tea before returning to the car is almost complete darkness. 

While we were sitting there, watching the water surge by, marvelling at the strength of it, I noticed a tree filled with detritus and on closer inspection it proved to be debris washed down during the last flooding. That tree is in the mid distance to the left of Himself......notice how high it is. We left quietly and in awe of the natural power of water and that only a few days ago, where we are sitting would have been 3 meters under water.....

Time to go............

A lovely weekend, and as usual it whizzzzzzed by but never mind, got another weekend coming up again in about...erm...5 days time!

Woo Hoo!!

A final colourful glimpse of our Bollywood night.

Jai-ho!

Last night Bollywood came to town. We painted the night red and cerise and fuchsia and turquoise. We sparkled in golds and silvers and shimmied in saris and salwar kameez, we were even graced by a visitation from Ganesh. The house was filled with exotic sounds and fragrant aromas. And we had a lovely evening.

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Earlier in the same day we had been out sorting a few last minute things when we stopped at little cash and carry store on the way home. One we had never used before where the assistants were incredibly helpful and went out of their way to oblige, offering to do the henna for my hands which I most gratefully and happily accepted. A very pretty young girl in a sparkling green and black sari painted my hands explaining how to look after the henna and how to extend and preserve these beautiful temporary tattoos.

The darkened henna, as dried, began to crumble off exposing the more delicate turmeric shades beneath

Later on during the evening, Youngest took a photograph of my decorated hands.

I will be wearing these badges of our wonderful celebration of Samhain for up to three weeks 

before they gently fade away

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More about our celebrations tomorrow, it's late and I've spent a happy (long) evening sorting out the pictures and now it's bedtime and I am rather tired, seeing we had a rather late night - g'night.

Cinderella shall go to the ball