Back to the old one for a new start

Well, that didn't last long did it.?

I even asked my techno whizz son to help me find my way around typepad, but he didn't find it easy either, so it's back to the tried and true for me, at least until I see my daughter Melissa (tinyhappy) again, maybe she will know what I need to do.

Thought I would show some pics of Christmas presents that were unwrapped. I made this top for Sylvia and she loves it...and it fits !

I sent this scarf off to Sarah in time for a snowy Christmas in Boston. It doubles as a wrap too.

This ballerina bunny arrived in Norway for Keira on Christmas Day,

and I was able to finish these socks today as the numbers in our household are diminishing.

Kirsty left on Saturday to have a Kiwi Experience adventure. Alexander flew back to the North Island to spend the rest of the holiday with his fiance.

Our two little granddaughters that were staying for a few days have now returned to their family, and today there was no agenda for me, so I blissed out just pottering about, doing a bit of this and a bit of that.

I finished the wasgij that Ian bought me for Christmas

When it was all finished I had a piece left over, which I thought was really funny because usually there is just one piece missing !

Maybe if you are doing a wasgij over New Year, this could be a piece of your puzzle.

I've moved

A new start for 2009. You can now find me here.

I hope you all have a joyful Christmas and a restful holiday doing all the things you love to do the most, and sharing a wonderful time with friends and family.

The Week before Christmas

Presents wrapped and under the tree.

Mince pies made, and the Christmas cake in the oven

and I am feeling so much better.

I can't show any of the knitted things that are wrapped for Christmas, but I can share the lovely Iris that I have in the garden today,

and the almost black scabiosa flower. Unfortunate name for such a pretty flower, I have always thought.

I hope your week before Christmas is going splendidly.

A deep breath

This last week was crazy with busyness and filling up time with stuff I have to do rather than want to do. I imagine it has been this way for all of you too, so close to Christmas.

I have been snatching moments of calm throughout .

This beautiful beach is a brisk walk away from where I live.

I can gasp lungfuls of invigorating sea air and perch myself on the dead log and contemplate.

Regretfully I cannot fly away into the blue.

It's in the genes

My Aunt Joan (my Mum's older sister) was a wonderful knitter. When I was expecting my first baby she sent me a beautiful layette all of which was knitted by herself. I treasured those little garments and used them for the five babies to follow David, our firstborn.



This photo of Joan was taken at the end of the 2nd World War, and the top she is wearing is probably one of her fine hand knits.

Now Joan's great- granddaughter Kirsty has come to stay with us and on Monday night she learnt to knit. She has taken to it like "a duck to water", which is hardly surprising given the incredible store of genes she comes from. Her mum and her grandmother don't knit so maybe myself and Kirsty have been given the larger portion of the knitting gene !

Of course my Mum Eve needs a mention here, she too was a great knitter and produced copious amounts of fair isle sweaters and vests, norwegian jumpers with reindeer......

I too can recall times when ALL the members of my family were happy to wear my handknits,

Ian refuses to wear a handknitted jumper or vest now.

This photo was taken on a day's outing to Mount Robert. Sarah is wearing a Kaffe Fasset pattern Alexander has a plane, and Tristan a ship, Tamsin has Minnie Mouse and Melissa has Sleeping Beauty. Ian is reluctantly wearing a jumper that took me ages to knit...I am not sure where it is now, I haven't seen it for years.

Madeline

I love dolls, especially the handmade variety and recently I was lucky enough to buy one of Little Jenny Wren's creations on Etsy.

I have named her Madeline and she is a redhead. The hair and the red beret reminded me of the well known story about a little french schoolgirl ....

written by Ludwig Bemelmans, first published in 1952. I have a lovely nostalgic memory of my Dad reading this story to me. Heidi and Milly Molly Mandy and What Katy Did were favourite bedtime stories too.

These books must all be timeless treasures. I think I shall enjoy sharing them with my granddaughters.

Third Cousin

I have a young family member Kirsty Ryan ( my cousin's granddaughter) visiting us for a few months from Berkshire in England. She arrived on Friday and I am having fun looking at " our place" through her eyes.

Kirsty went to her first Symphony Concert on Saturday night, which was a great success and we all enjoyed it so much. I can now have a little break from practising and start making preparations for Christmas.

Yesterday was

spent at a nearby river. A little walk through the bush and a "big toe dip" in the water.


Plenty more of these sorts of days I think.