WIP Wednesday 200: Weedfree

Whimsical Tarot

I haven't made much progress with the Yalinka Shawl; I don't think I like it much - but I persevere as I might have been affected by the dodgy yarn, rather than just the pattern itself. Plus, I don't think I could bear to rip it back again. Plus, Auntie Fashion is no longer able to go to the function for which she wished to wear it: she is home again, extremely tired and in a wheelchair.

So today let's look at sunny photos of my roses:

Absent Friends, floribunda

Sweet Dreams, scented patio rose

wish I hadn't lost the label - a scented patio rose

I think this is Sweet Magic, scented patio rose

This last rose is the one that suffered most from the move - but she is making a determined effort at a comeback.

And I did start a new knitting project, since I've completed the MKAL, and don't want to work on Yalinka. I wanted something simple, quick, straightforward, and using much thicker yarn than laceweight. So here is the beginning of the Ghislaine Gloves in the Artesano Hummingbird 4ply that looked so ugly as a shawl:

Yes, I know, it doesn't actually tick any of the required boxes; I may have to go rummage in the stash storage to find some of the chunky yarn my sister gave me. How long do we give it before you count me lost and send in a rescue party ?

Meanwhile, over at Tami's Amis .....

WIP Wednesday 158 : Cats and Dogs

Gaian Tarot

I am feeling just like the woman in this joyful Sun card from the Gaian Tarot: I had the most fabulous weekend away in Kent, meeting the gorgeous Nephew (August 2013 Edition) and attending SIL2's birthday gettogether. The sun shone, everyone was in a good mood, the kids and the dog behaved beautifully, DH and I were put up somewhere self-contained on our own, we didn't have to cook (by we, I mean DH, of course)  ....  it was just superb.

On top of that, all the baby things I'd made were much appreciated and more importantly, ooohed and awed at; SIL2 loved her birthday shawl. And now I am home alone in quiet solitude. Even my checkup at the dentist (only 1 filling needed in 2 weeks' time, in the tooth that had the ache - you can't imagine my relief. Or maybe you can.) and mucking out Destructo Boy's sty to the tune of 4 full big black bags full of rubbish has not affected my mood.

 It has just occurred to me that because I was out walking with DH and Sebastian on the beach or in barley fields ie. The Wild, I didn't even go into any yarn shops. Wow.

Unfortunately I have not managed much knitting or making. I did take my knitting with me - I find it keeps me calm and distracted in the car - intending to get on with the fronts for Destructo Boy's cardigan. I made a start, with the ribbing, and a few rows of pattern - then realized that I had managed to leave behind the pocket linings.

It is obviously not part of the Universe's plan for me to knit this week:

Perhaps everybody else is being more productive over at Tami's Amis .....

Rewards

So this was me today. Calm, chilled, relaxed, focussed. Believe that, believe anything.

Actually, this was far closer to the truth:

I had looked at Moonheart, and I really think that she had totally the right idea about how to spend the day - especially since it was very cold and blustery outside:

Yes, the radiator is on, and that is a rather unusual and hard-to-come-by spider plant that she is crushing, next to the very expensive cutting that came from Kent that she has her paw in. Buddha also took a header not long afterwards.

However, as I was just about to settle down to Karise (thanks so much again, Steph) with a cup of tea, blankey, hot water bottle and Dr.Mark Sloan, I saw this:

Irresistible, isn't he ? A mere hour and a half of running around chasing squirrels and big leaves in the park turned him into this:

I need to figure out how I can be more productive during this time.

WIP Wednesday 65: :Better Late

.... than never.

So all my plans yesterday fell apart and on top of that, the washing machine broke: the drum does not go round. I just ran out of time, energy and will to blog yesterday. So I'll make up for it today instead.

As you'll recall, I have been working on the Vintage Cabled Sweater for at least a century, and at the last check, only had about maybe 3/4 of the second sleeve to go. Now I have about 5/8 of it to go:

It has progressed so little because I have been led astray by this:

I found this at Wibbling Wools in Bury St.Edmunds when we were there at the weekend: Regia Hand-dye Effect by Kaffe Fassett. It is being turned into the Seriously Simple Shawl pattern, another lovely creation of Wendy D.Johnson.   

I think this is a far more enjoyable photo even though you see a lot less of it :

                                                           Moonheart in Dr.Jekyll mode

Less tardy and less lazy people's work can be seen at Tami's Amis ......