Ta da !

Look what i made!!!!!!!!! My very own pair of arm warmers! Made all by myself. I'm a little bit happy ....can you tell?

Ok so there was a slight change of plan since last time,the arm warmers have been made out of what was going to be a scarf . The stripey boucle wool was proving quite tricky to knit with ( for a novice) So i was rather pleased to discover that i'd made them to long to be arm warmers ( were talking way past the elbow) as i wasn't sure i could face knitting another one .

So i made it into this ......

Note how impressed my little model is!

Ok so heres the secret...I cheated, it isn't actually a hat , it doesn't have a top bit . Really its a glorified one size fits all , headband. But i'm still jolly proud of it anyway.

And finally here is Maya's Scarf, hopefully i shall get it finished by Christmas. Hopefully i'll have it finished before .. more projects to do you know !

Glittery days and dark nights

We have been very busy today making some more decorations for the advent tree. I decided this year to do away with the horrible chocolate calendars and make 24 little decorations to hang on a little tree ( or perhaps a branch...ok so i haven't found anything yet but i will!) And every day the children will take it in turns to get a decoration ( and perhaps something small and yummy that isn't crappy chocolate) out of a little set of drawers that have also been given a seasonal facelift.

The children have all helped to make things for it , Maya has sewn some felt decorations , Jamie snipped some snowflakes and Sonny was in charge of all things glittery .

I did wonder if perhaps i was being a bit mean making them take it in turns , after all i never had to take turns ( only child) with my advent calendar . And it was my favourite part of Christmas , opening those tiny little doors to see what kitsch little picture was hiding there. Was it a robin? a present? an angel? And then the ultimate ....the double door on day 24! I keep them for months afterwards just so i could close the doors and start all over again. But then if i'd only opened one every third day maybe it would have been even more exciting ! Hmmn we'll see.

Those odd looking shapes on the back are Sonny's rather unconventional snowflakes , which i think look beautiful despite having control freakery issues about them ( me not him!)

And while this was happening inside this was happening outside.

I know a lot of people really struggle with shorter days , when the nights draw in , everything colder and the world seems to turn inward a bit.

I really love it though...all of it...the dark nights , the dark mornings, the cold weather, rain, wind, snow...ESPECIALLY snow . I appreciate that unlike those poor people in Cumbria (who especially DON'T love all those things at the minute) I've never been in a situation where i have been at the mercy of the elements, but i love the cold wintry weather none the less and can think of no better sound than the rain on my windows.

Beautiful Autumness

Season Table A few garden pics ( although the camera doesn't do the beautiful vivid colours justice)

Final few blackberries , they were devoured seconds after the pic was taken.

Making, baking and a spot more knitting.

After my initial devastation at breaking my blender( cracked the jug...arrrggh) i discovered its till good for smoothies you just need plenty of clothes for mopping up purposes! My new fav smoothie of the week is this lovely berry number ( still equally as nice with obligatory handfuls of spinach , just turned it a rather horrible brown colour so here it is pre-greens)

Finally made a start on advent decorations , que excessive use of glitter and felt.

My Mum , Dad and Nana came to visit us today with some early birthady presents for Jamie and a LOVELY big pile of wool for me!!!! It was so lovely to see everyone and to get some knitting help from my Mum. In honour of the occasion i baked a cake and bought strawberries even though they were dutch , not in season, EXPENSIVE, and not as nice as when you have then in June! You'll be pleased to hear i managed to choke them down anyway.

My lovely new wool ( are we sensing an obsession here?)

That little row has grown and had some red added! And unable to contain my excitement and wait until i've finished one project i have already started on some arm warmers , green and red stripes ( do you see a theme emerging here?) I might have to forgo sleep tonight to get them finished . Addicted moi?

Love you more!

' Mummy i love you more than a million lizards on a million T-Rex' backs.'

My name is Charlotte and I can't knit!

I am a knitting novice, i did learn when i was a child but promptly forgot how as soon as i lost interest.
Spurred on by pictures of gorgeous knitted items , made by lovely talented knitters i decided it was worth a second go. My Mum gave me some wool and some needles and showed me how to do a knit stitch and a purl stitch, and of i went gripping on to the needles for dear life.
I managed a few rows alternating between the two stitches ( not intentionally either) before i had to stop because my hands hurt from holding the needles too tightly! Undeterred i decided to have another go, i got a book out the library and was determined to knit Maya a scarf for Christmas. However.. first i would have to learn to cast on .....so last night once the children were in bed i had a go...
OMG...It was so difficult, i looked at the book , i watched 3 videos, i swore , i cried ( well no tears more of a hissy fit actually) i proclaimed that i couldn't do it. And then i pulled myself together!

And this is what i did.

I DID IT!!!! This may look like the most pathetic little inch of knitting to you clever knitters out there but i am sooo proud of it.And i love doing it , already it is strangley addictive watching it grow. Hopefully by Christmas it will have grown MUCH bigger.

Recipe for Flapjack

Take one little helper, Some delicious organic ingredients ....pecans....mmmm

mix together and if you have any left bake in the oven for 20 mins .

Yum.

200g butter melted

4 tbsp Agave nectar

100g Dark brown sugar

mix over low heat then add pre mixed

100g flour

250g whole oats

200g mixed nuts and seeds ( pumpkin, sunflower, sesame and pecans)

bake for 20 mins gas mark 4