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Showing posts from 2010

Sun Dec 12th 2010 - Avoca Differently!

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This post has nothing to do with Dec or Christmas. A couple of months ago, we took a drive down Wicklow way, and when you need a cuppa, Avoca mill is a great stop off for coffee and a scone or even yummy cake. But after our sustenance, we took a side road on our way back and came upon the Avoca mines. It was a beautiful sunny afternoon. Railway bridge. Remnants of the old copper mines Chimney through the trees. I would love to explore this area more and I think it's proposed to build walks etc here. It's a really beautiful area and not a place I've found before now.
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Oh dear I forgot to post yesterday. To make up I'll post twice today. Hope I remember to do it later. 'Take That' appeared on our Late Late Show last evening, and they were so good. I thoroughly enjoyed the show. Robbie appeared first, then Gary and Mark followed by Jason and Howard and when they sang they got an ovation. The audience were enthralled and entertained. Such uplifting stuff for the moment.

Thursday Dec 9th 2010

At last the snow seems to be melting. Though really slowly and the footpaths are really slippery. DH took me for a drive today. Drove to Carlow, though the motorway had only 1 lane open each direction. However the scenery in the snow was spectacular. Enjoyed a few hours in Carlow, got another Christmas gift!! Not easy these days, being confined to home with snow. Should have photos tomorrow.

Dec 8th 2010

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qi7ZEeaFDYk Video for the new single 'Future Kings' by Miracle Bell new out. These are a really great band and worth listening to or seeing live at venues around Ireland. Brighten up your day and have a listen. Other music by them also on 'You tube'. Not much in the way of knitting today. Had our Christmas meetup for Book Club followed by a lovely lunch. Very enjoyable, despite the icy paths. Our book for this month wasn't great. It was by Antonia Fraser and told of her life with Harold Pinter, in diary form. We were not impressed, indeed I did not finish it.

Tuesday Dec 7th 2010 - Tea for Two

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Could I invite you to tea??? I don't think so. This is the sight that greeted me once again. Now I know that the table looks like a Christmas cake, but it would be pretty cold for eating! And the tea would melt the look. I know the sights are very pretty, but we need a thaw soon. Need to shop, need to get out!!! I can't walk out at the moment, so hopefully if it thawed, I could at least drive somewhere near. Stir crazy ! Even knitting isn't doing it for me

Monday Dec 6th - A beautiful morning

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Through the icicles a glimpse of trees lit by the morning sun. It's absolutely freezing. However the sun is shining and should be embraced maybe for a little while. From my front step these trees look really regal and stately, while the sun shines through the ice which Jack Frost left behind. This is the day before a very austere Budget here in Ireland, so this Monday morning I'm trying to concentrate on all things good and beautiful if possible. In the warmth of my house it's lovely to look outside. I'm having a really delicious Cappuccino which I made and it's real pleasure. No matter what this Budget my bring I'm not going to let it take away my Cappuccino. These are good times to knit and craft. I can even work through my stash without needing to spend on any more yarn. Then maybe after Christmas I could be persuaded to have a look in the yarn sales.

Sunday Dec 5th 2010

Almost forgot to post today.Then I'd miss out on my intention to blog each day till Christmas! Today I went to the city to try to get some Christmas shopping done. Got a couple of gifts, and so am pleased. It may be next weekend before I get out shopping again. Snow still on the ground and so I'm not willing to risk it on my own. It's really unfortunate to get this very cold spell just before Christmas, I'm sure the shops are truly losing out on business and then when the thaw arrives it'll be so busy!! On the knitting front, I've a few more FO's which I can't blog about for obvious reasons, neither have I taken photos, but will during the week. Have another project started tonight and am enjoying it, but lots of sewing up!!!

Saturday Dec 4th 2010 - Recent Knits

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These are a few of my finished FO's. I mainly knit them in October and November last, but as they were for gifts, I could not post them here. However the recipients I think were happy. Short scarf and matching fingerless gloves for my sister. Knit in Rowan Cashsoft 4ply. Really soft and quite thick for 4ply yarn. Socks for my DH's birthday. Knit in Regia sock yarn. This really is great yarn for socks. Hard wearing and remains soft. This is Annis for myself. I love it and would love to knit another. Knitted in Manon silk. I've enough left to knit another maybe short scarf, but do you think I can find it?? It must have fallen out of my knitting bag, or rolled under a chair or couch. But I can't get down on my knees yet to really look. I'll have to ask someone to look for me!

Snow Again- December 3rd 2010

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We are still covered in snow. Really Christmassy, except that I can't get out and about to get Christmas gifts. A family party/dinner scheduled for tomorrow evening has had to be cancelled as have other Christmas events. I think perhaps there was a slight thaw today, but what with all the snow that fell here and now the freezing temperatures have set in, I think that roads and paths will still be as treacherous tomorrow. However someone here will have to get to the shops as we are quickly running out of supplies!! 12 midday outside my front door. An Astilbe forest! These are the remains of summer's Astilbes which covered in snow look really lovely peeping through the snow. We've had birds almost come in the door in the last few days, but each time I put food out it just gets covered in snow. There must be at least 12 ins of snow in the garden. Unbelievable. Off to do some knitting now.

The Christmas and the Icing. December 2nd 2010

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This is my third crochet sock yarn blanket. I've been working on it for a few months, but managed to finish it last weekend. It's so cosy and I wrap it around myself on the couch these freezing days. It's really cheerful. I call it the 'icing on the cake' of snow. This is a Christmas cake snow sculpture. Amazingly it made itself as this is the result of many days' snowfall on the little garden table just outside. Underneath it are lovely little alpine plants, probably half dead by now.

December 1st 2010

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Just a few weeks now till Christmas and here in Ireland we are almost 'snowed' in and I'm sure this is having a terrible effect on businesses this near to Christmas. Not sure how long this will last but it's very early for us to have this amount of snow. As it's December and I've not been blogging very much, I'll try to post each day now till the Big Day! I'm sure I'll find something to say. These are the pictures from inside my house just 10 mins ago! Back garden Bamboos in the garden, sprinkled with snow Bare snowy trees, really beautiful Through the front door glass From my kitchen window. Snow makes everything look clean and beautiful. Would love to go walking but alas my knee which I injured 6weeks ago, keeps me inside. Off to finish some knitting and have a coffee.

Music - Miracle Bell

www.youtube.com/watch?v=QQqWrsUZD_c&feature=related Have a listen and watch this super video of a brilliant local band. They've just been nominated 'Most original concept' at IMTV awards. You might just feel like downloading their music. They are really good and especially good live. December sees them touring with The Coronas on their Irish tour. Good luck

Knitted Finished Objects

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As promised, some of my recent FO's. I'm currently laid up with a damaged knee and so have time to upload some pictures, read some blogs and catch up on some blog posting. Short scarf and hand warmers for a gift. Just have to get a brooch fixing for the flower on the scarf so it can be closed over. Yarn used is Rowan Cashsoft 4ply. Comfy lounge socks for a gift, also knit with Rowan Cashsoft 4ply. Socks for the man in my life. Knitted two pairs but the other pair is being washed already, although only given as a birthday gift 2 days ago. Appreciation! And last up my Annis scarf/shawl. I knit this about 6 weeks ago and while it was difficult to get the pattern going, I'm really thrilled with the result. The pattern was from Knitty and the yarn I used is Manos Lace which is really soft and lovely to wear. Today I knit a couple of hats for the Innocent Big Knit. I have just over 20 little hats knit now and when I'm done I'll take a photo.

I'm still here

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I just realise that I haven't been blogging lately. I think I've been too lazy to bother, which isn't good enough. I love, love reading other blogs and would like to think that someone out there is reading mine, but if there are no updates, noone will bother. These are some photos of La Defense area of Paris which for some reason I absolutely love. We stayed overnight here before we attended a wedding in Tours and just had a great evening wandering around after all the traffic hassle of our drive. La Grand Arche from Nanterre side Sunset Thumbs Up! One of the many sculptures in that are. Really modern, great buildings and really great views. Some knitting content next posting, hopefully.

Chateau Chambord, Loire Valley, France

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Chateau Chambord and it's estate were very close to the campsite where we spent our holiday. It's really magnificent and rather huge! The lovely river winds around it and one can take a boat ride on the river. Some welcome shade from the midday sun I loved this sculpture at the entrance to the Chateau. More later.

French Holiday 2010

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We spent a lovely two weeks in France in May last. Stayed in a chalet at the Chateau des Marais campsite in the Loire valley. We were attending a wedding at the end of our holiday near the city of Tours in mid France, but spent the first 8 days holidaying in the area ourselves. This campsite was situated near Chambord Chateau, which is one of the biggest in the region and absolutely fabulous. Our chalet was lovely and the campsite really great with good facilities. These are just two photos of it.

Home Baking

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You'd never think I was trying to lose some weight, but recently I've taken to baking again. Too much in fact. However the results have been good and you can never have too much of a good thing! Deprivation doesn't help to lose weight so I'll just try to eat a little less. Anyway there are plenty of us in the house to share so it's not so bad. I made some wholemeal scones to serve with homemade soup - really good, and then just needed a chocolate fix and made yummy brownies. Recipe for the brownies is one from a Gary Rhodes book and they are really easy and taste lovely. I had to make soup the last two days. You see the veg on the alltoment are ready each day and so I had to make room in the fridge for the new veg. So I made soup with what was already in the fridge and froze some of it. I made potato and leek soup and some spicy sweet potato and lentil which I served with creme fraiche. Very very good!

Fresh veg

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This year DH took an allotment and is growing fruit and veg. Plenty of fresh air in a really lovely place and now we have lovely produce to enjoy. Really good new potatoes, plenty of lettuce, some carrots, and the sweetest beets. Also some rhubarb (not in photo). So this evening we'll have roast potatoes with bacon, new potato salad, and some yummy rhubarb with either ice cream or custard, or maybe both.

Back again! Some recent knits

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I knit these in April for a friend's first grandchild. I get great pleasure from knitting baby items, very quick results and so dainty. My friend always knit for her own children and so I knew these would be appreciated.

Chicken crochet prize

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Well I won. R at www.sheknitupthatball.blogspot.com had a comment competition on her blog, after she had visited the US. And I won!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!. I'm really really thrilled. Below are pictures of my prizes. First photos below are pictures from the crochet book for patterns. And the yarn! I love Sugar n Cream cotton. I've been knitting dishcloths and washcloths for about a year now, after I first got some of this cotton in a swap. I never imagined that knitting these would be so addictive and very useful. So I'm very pleased. Thank you very much R for your great prize. I'm looking forward to trying these patterns.

Sculpture in the Parklands

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I read an article recently in the Irish Times magazine about this lovely parkland beside Lough Boora. It's just a few kilometers off the main road between Tullamore and Birr in County Offaly. It's a really lovely place to visit. Wide open parkland on what was a working bog and which now shows great sculptures in a really idyllic setting. We had a lovely walk around the park and the lake. There are also plenty of places to park and picnic. Great day out.