new

Lots of new things around here. I have a wireless mouse which means I can switch off the over-sensitive touch pad on my laptop which was driving me mad, and I have a small table from a junk shop to put my laptop on.

Also I have a enormous new tv. Im very lucky!

Picked these fungi in the forest in Sweden a few months ago. We dried some of them and brought them home to England.

Aren't they cute?

half-finished

Lots of projects - all half-finished. I ran out of supplies for a few of them and unfortunately the ceiling fell down in my local needlework shop. I think they have it sorted now so I can go tomorrow and buy beads, crochet cotton, Danish flower threads and double-pointed needles.

I really need to finish stuff before my week off from work in November so I can concentrate on putting down a new wooden floor in my hall and finishing off all the half-finished diy jobs around here!

This is my front garden. No flowers visible at the moment as it's moving into autumn and I haven't got around to planting any winter pansies yet. Another job for my week off - its going to be busy.

grey

Its a grey, cloudy day here today so I feel like looking at a sunny picture. This was taken at the opera house in Uppsala on my recent holiday. The whole design of the building was very Swedish; clean lines and blocks of colour, and there were 360 degree views of the city from this gallery. Unfortuately I didnt go there to listen to any opera. Maybe next time. I have started on my back-tack knitting project after a trip to my lys in Shoreham yesterday. Also I have ordered 2 beautiful books from La Croix et La Maniere. Hope they get here soon - I cant wait.

socks

Finished my first pair of socks (we wont mention the brown socks started somewhere around 1978 but never finished). I cast these on very tightly and after a couple of rows had some problems moving the stitches along the needle. Ripped and restared more loosely and now they are v baggy! They are more like slipper socks and are very warm being made of Rowan Tapestry which is mostly wool. I like them!

Em is feeling better today. She had to stay in all yesterday and was very cross about it!

back-tack

I am taking part in the back-tack swop. It's the first time I have done one of these. Haven't decided what to make yet but whatever it is will be a secret so wont be appearing here until later. Im also busy making stuff for our Christmas craft fair at work. This is the second year we have held a fair raising money for Water Aid. I am planning to make some small items like hair bands with crochet flowers and maybe some gloves or something if I have time.

Em went outside this morning and came back dribbling. I was worried she had something stuck in her throat so we rushed off to see the vet. She is fine now but still dribbling a bit. The vet thinks she probably licked a frog and it tasted bad. Silly old cat.

shoes

I had a shoppping trip to Brighton yesterday. I just finished reading Atonement by Ian McEwan and loved it so I wanted to buy the dvd. Saved myself £20 by shopping around so I felt completely justified in spending £120 on shoes!! Chunky Fly sandals and Rocket Dog boots.

The photo is detail from a building near my brother's house in Uppsala, Sweden. I never got around to blogging about my recent trip there but have been saving up this photo. It looks like an iced cake. I love the flowers.

busy..

..finishing off my crocheted bag. I was so disappointed in the bag when it was finished, it really wasnt how I imagined it and so there are still 2 ends to sew in. I think the blue looks quite harsh so its destined to stay inside the house and become my knitting bag - containing half a sock, but more on that later. Em was wondering what the fuss was about.

Last weekend I drove to North Wales to camp with some friends, build fires and climb Snowdon. Sarah organised the trip, and she was right; there was no rain left in the sky by saturday. Perfect camping and walking weather and the views from the top were incredible.