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Showing posts from December, 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.