turtleknits

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.

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!!!

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.

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.

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.

Happy Christmas Everyone who reads my blog. We ve been having really festive weather here. Frosty, icy, cold but lovely and sunny. Christmas morning I went for walk and took my camera with me. Frosty berries Sunrise on the trees through the branches Crow sitting on the frosty branches An elusive flower - won't last too long in the frost Winter scene where I live.

I didn't get a lot of knitting done for Christmas gifts this year. I don't think I planned to really. Anyway these are a few that I did manage to do. A clapotis and matching mittens for my eldest daughter, and she was thrilled with them. I also knit a similar clapotis for my younger daughter in a different colour. The yarn used for both was Phildar Lambswool. It's 50% lambswool and 50% acrylic. It's really really soft. Hope it washes ok later! This is a gorgeous gorilla who came naked and needed a handknit cardi! I think he was very happy. Good way to use some more of my stash. Gorilla in another pose! Three pairs of 'sofa slippers' for my sisters, knitted in Noro 'Silver Thaw'. Hope they deep the toesies warm this cold weather. Must keep knitting from my stash!!!!!!!!!!!

Happy Christmas everyone! I hope its a great one this year. Have not been blogging since November. Ah well more from me in the New Year hopefully. Have plenty of pictures to post and some knitted projects too. Just taking a little time from preparations now and looking forward to a lovely Christmas dinner with all the trimmings shortly. Got great gifts today and Christmas is just as great as ever.