First Baby Hat for Ages

I found this yarn in my LYS, in Whitley Bay, and loved the colour. At that time I had no idea what I would use it for, but providence has seen fit to send a small person my way so it seemed only right that baby should have a hat. I will be collecting her (or him - with a different hat) from the hospital and it's turned a little chilly recently so yesterday I cast on using the Hambley Hand Painted Yarn - very informative label :o) It does say that it's 80 % wool and 20% Polyamide so it should wash well and indeed it has responded very nicely to being wet for blocking by blooming a little, just enough to make is soft and fluffy.

I used the Knitter's Handy Book of Patterns and two strands of the 4 ply so that it knitted to a tension of 4 st to the inch (approx.). Of course I had a false start as I didn't actually do a tension square but knitting at 5 st per inch it was going to be way too big, so I ripped that back and started again.
I did a picot edge and a little icord top knot and I'm pleased with it. It took an evening to make and I will add a set of mitts and booties to match.

I haven't knit anything so small for a very long time and it was fun to get such a quick result. sadly the book doesn't go down small enough for the mitts and booties but i am sure I have several patterns elsewhere, if only I knew where to find them. this morning a PY sock jumped in the way so i have to give that a little attention before casting on for the mitts. Anyone know the circumference of a newborn wrist?
I've googled Hambley Hand Painted Yarn and all variations thereof but can't find any info on the maker so I'll pop back to the LYS and see if they know any more. If anyone knows anything about these yarns please let me know as I haven't seen them anywhere else and I'd like to use them again.

Hard Lace and it's Kerrie's fault!

First the hard lace, (btw that's Soo's fault)- it's Niebling. There's a yahoo group here trying to get the patterns published. In the meantime raid eBay and keep a check on your wallet - I've already spent a fortune and am yet to knit a stitch. The raineysisters are bitten by the bug too, so I'm in good company.

Talking of good company, it's all Kerrie's fault that I have just ordered the Tulip Kit from Socktopus. This will be for the new baby due to arrive any day now :o) Hope it really is a girl! Not sure about this 'knowing the sex before It's born' thing, seems a bit like unwrapping your presents before Christmas to me, but I guess I am showing my age here :o) I was buying up Mothercare last week and this led me to pondering, as you do, on the strangeness of the world where a yet unborn bub is due to come to me rather than stay with it's mum.

Anyway, such ponderings helped me decide to buy the expensive Moses basket rather than the cheap one! After all fostered babies should be able to have nice things too! I don't buy the best easily (apart from Yarn) after years of scarping by and making do. I even find bargains for car seats etc. now, though I don't have to. In fact all my fostered babies have had better and newer things than my own children did, when I had them I had no money. Seems a life time ago now. I worried about where to find the money for basics and my kids had no moses baskets, cheap or otherwise.

It's one of the really nice things about being a foster mum that I don't have to worry about the money to buy equipment. In some ways it is doing the parenting I would have liked to have been able to do when my big ones were little. All clothing food and everyday expenses - nappies, etc.- come out of the allowance I get paid each week for the baby whilst she is in my care. Big items like a new buggy, moses basket, etc. are paid for by the fostering service, I buy them and then claim it back on expenses. These items will stay with me and not move on with the baby and will be used for subsequent children and replaced as necessary. Fostered babies benefit from experience gained by making mistakes with your own children too ;o)

I can't give bub a 'normal' family (whatever that is) but I can make sure she doesn't miss out on the material things other children have, and I know she will get plenty of cuddles ... and cardigans :o) Not sure when I'll get a chance to knit lace though. VBG

Shoalwater is Finished

---

Pattern: Shoalwater Shawl from Fibre Trends by Evelyn A. Clark

Yarn: Middle Earth Yarn, Foamy Seas, DK BFL, 4 skeins

Needles: 6.5mm

Modifications: worked 3 complete repeats and didn't do the i-cord to the neck edge.

Finished size: 89" x 49 1/2"

Comments: I would use a smaller needle next time, but overall very hapy with the results and it's lovely and squishy and beautifully warm.

A Good Day

I met up with Yarn Snob today to collect some gorgeousness from her dyepot. I was trying to take some photos this afternoon but the light was rubbish and these yarns are too good to photograph badly :o) so I have 'borrowed' Elaine's photos (but not her bandwidth) I hope you don't mind Elaine? First the gorgeous African Dusk Lace Weight 100gm 3.5 oz Approx 900yrds perfect for an autumnal project I have in mind.

Next is Grandeur Lace Weight 100gm 3.5 oz Approx 900yrds a stunning purple yarn which is just as lovely in real life as on the screen. Both are very lovely to touch as well as to look at. I am really looking forward to knitting with these.

The wonderful yarn was matched by charming company, how wonderful to spend 2 hours talking nothing but knitting :o) really just what I needed after a hard emotional week with lots of annoying issues around our adoption application coming to the surface. Maybe more on that another time, but today has been a very good antidote to bureaucratic incompetence as knitters are such lovely company.

As well as picking up my purchases we also brought our projects to show and tell. It's great to have the internet to forge our connections with other knitters but it is also great to meet the people behind the blog and see those blogged projects in person. The Hanami Stole Elaine knitted is gorgeous and much pinker than I imagined :o) We have both recently completed Hemlocks so they were introduced to each other, Elaine has now completed two! I was able to see how much I need to improve my photographs so that readers can see the true beauty of the yarns I use. I also had the opportunity to see the beautiful Sea and Shell Stole. Ah, good conversation and good company (and a lovely lunch, thank you Elaine). Now, get those projects blocked! VBG

A week off blogging gives me lots of sites to comment on and over at Annette's there is a link to Skein Queen. In the interests of research (you understand) I had to go look - you go look too - Ooooo, I feel a squishy testing may be required to confirm my initial reaction :o) Isn't it yummy that handpainted yarn comes in so many distinctive 'flavours'? So many lovely places to shop with different goodies on offer at each.

I had a large PY delivery this morning too - sorry that Sophia Sceptre from last week is mine, all mine, Mwahaha! Elaine and I agree that Dee's formula of listing at a set time is addictive and compelling - you know where to find us at 6pm on a Sunday :o) I also bagged the Cecilia Claret and some Laura Rapunzel, oh, and Elaine can identify PY yarn type by sight :o)

And finally, I have some more laceweight to look forward to from Cazza at Middle Earth Yarn with Ring Wraith heading my way along with these cuties - well, it is nearly Halloween :o)

Hope everyone has a happy and peaceful weekend, I feel much better about life the universe and everything today than I did yesterday, hope you do too. And I am probably getting a newborn bub to care for any day now so I'll be knitting my free time in preparation for having my hands full in a week or so and for the foreseeable time. Off to finish my Shoalwater :o)

ETA Forgot to say, Elaine's swatch with the naughty yarn is wonderful and she's doing a really interesting scarf with the very soft Malabrigio which is very pretty and I may just copy it :P

Shaolwater again.

My second Shoalwater is well under way, and speeding along.

Middle Earth Yarns BFL DK Foamy Seas, 6.5mm circs :o)

Obviously what I need to do with a growing pile of UFOs is cast on a new project, the Shoalwater seemed like a rest although I am beginning to think the only pattern I ever knit is Old Shale.

Shaolwater again.

Hemlock Love :)

The colour isn't right but I can't wait until daylight - I am in love!

I was worried it might not be big enough for my sofa - actually it's a tad too big, but I aint hiding it away.

Posh Yarn Emily (Magnus), 3 skeins plus 25 gms of Posh Yarn Emily (Peal) for cast off, needles size 4.5mm, 40" circs.

Which big doily pattern shall I do next?

It still has some ripples in it :o) but I didn't want to iron it.

Remembering.

Dee as a lovely post today with some beautiful photos of where she lives.

This prompted me into thinking about my local area and made me go and do something I have been meaning to do for weeks now. Go and photograph something whilst I still can.

The cranes at Swan Hunters on the north bank of the Tyne are coming down, they are being sold to somewhere in India. In the past when hard times came and the yards lay idel the cranes stood sentry until new orders came in and work resumed, but no more. This is the end of an era for Wallsend, no more ship building on the Tyne.

When I see these images I am filled with sadness; those large red cranes are the first to go, one is already missing several parts as you can see.

These giants are what I see when I come back into Wallsend, they greet me on my way home and when I see them I feel that warm feeling you get when you are nearly back to your nest. MY skyline will eventually be completely different as they currently dominate their surroundings. You can see how much smaller the other coloured cranes are.

I am told that the green one is staying as it is a listed structure, there are apparently plans to redevelope the area as a marina with posh houseing and eateries. *sigh* Somehow I don't see the 'riverside appartments' new residents being comfortable with that as a reminder of our industrial heritage.

Walking along by the shipyard today I was struck by how quiet it was down there> It must have been so busy and noisy in it's heyday. The warehouses are already cleared. Just 3 men were fishing where once thousands worked.

When I look at this red monster I wonder how many ships she has helped to build? What were their names and to where have they sailed?

Then as I was feeling all melancholy the men working to take the cranes down started to cut the bearings free - they are working on a very precarious scaffolding and they are very high in the air. My 300mm lens couldn't get any closer than this. Suddenly there was noise and life and action again.

I will miss my view, although I could never call it picturesque it is still home, well, my adopted home. I wonder how the people who grew up here and worked at Swan's feel to see it coming down? How will they feel about a swanky new Marina? And all the new houses going up in the place of industry, will their occupants know or care what came before them? Where will they work?

I hope they do keep the green crane, we shouldn't lose it all.

Look at the site at google maps , search for Swan Hunter and zoom in until you see the dry docks; the end of the largest dock is where the men are fishing in my photo, all the buildings have been leveled.

Hemlock finished

I did you a lovely post last night ...all about life the universe and everything and waxed lyrical, sorry you missed it ... the machine ate it!

Bah humbug! don't you hate it when that happens?

Anyway, it's done and still blocking - dry faster, damn you!

Took this photo last night with the aid of DD1 who was trying to 'spoil' the photo but I thought I'd leave her in as a aid to scale :o) It measures 54" across it's widest point, so I guess 4 ft when unpinned. Dry, damn you!

And the good news is ...

...baby is going home.

Many mixed emotions about this, I do think it is the best thing for all concerned (I hope it is).

Got the phone call this afternoon that I should drop him off at his house tomorrow morning. Warned all my kids to say goodbye and get their 'baby cuddle quota' filled tonight because when they come home tomorrow he'll be gone. Me? I've been kissing those baby cheeks and hugging and cuddlin' :o) He is the happiest baby I have ever had the pleasure of looking after and it's amazing how quickly they develop at that age, every day brings a new ability, another step in hand eye co-ordination, more gurgling and a wider smile.

No wonder his mum & dad have missed him and no wonder they are delighted that they get to have him back so soon. It's been a very long 3 weeks for them.

On the positive side I am planning lots of knitting in the next few days and weeks, time to get Della done, 2 long term projects that are nearing completion (one really only days away from the final stitch) Hemlock to finish, 2 Goddess Knits shawls to start, lots of socks to knit for Christmas. See? Lots to keep me busy and like Anne I should also sort out lots of junk and reorganise myself, paint the rest of the little room for our next visitor and generally get my life in order now that my 4 yr old is in full time school.

But on the negative side I will be doing it all with empty arms and he is the happiest baby I have ever met.

It can be a wonderful world, a world made beautiful by new eyes gazing on it for the first time, today was a rare beauty of a late summer/autumn day; and it can be a cruel and savage world because of the people in it, a world where babies are not safe.

Bonne chance, little one, bonne chance.

One step forward two steps back

Just when I was thinking 'bigger knits are quicker' I read this and visions of lace are once again floating through my head - sigh!

Thick may be quick but Lace is ACE! (sorry!)

So eye candy as that's all I have time for today; talking about knitting to some fellow foster carers today and they said "when do you get time?" the answer is not today!


Spring Things








Muir


















Diamond Lace


Aspen Grove

Where did that week go?

Things I forgot about babies - they are warm and snuggley, they make cute sucking noises, they want feeding NOW, they smile at you beautifully, they sleep deeply, and they don't give you much time to knit!

I have therefore decided I need to knit bigger yarn (in the perhaps mistaken belief that bigger is quicker), I need to prioritise projects (and finish those nearest to completion), I shouldn't cast on any more projects (yeah, right!), spare time has to be grasped firmly. I have a shawl that is nearly finished , just need to finish the edging, another which is half done and a hemlock which could be cast off if I accept it being a little undersized. All 4 ply! Stash is full of lace & 4 ply, guess I'll be doubling up :o) Little fosterling would look lovely in a hand knitted jumper :o) I think a BSJ or a February sweater. Lots of EZ patterns still to try.

In other news our adoption file has been chosen by the OFSTED inspectors - this fills me with huge glee - bring it on Mr Inspector, come, visit, talk, listen, let me tell you how it is for us, can you believe it?! I am making a list! Adoption worker called this afternoon. 'Can I think of anything negative about the experience?' Can I? Where shall I start? 'Can I think of anything positive?' Hmmm! er... NO! Well, yes, one very positive little person without whom life would be very different, she is very positive. But the process... NO!

Just a Quickie :o)

Still here and still knitting ... bit of the Hemlock done yesterday and very good intentions of getting some Della done. I've used up some PY do you think that means I can buy more?

I have joined the Goddess Knits Mystery Shawl #5 and just need o decide on the yarn - so much stash, so hard to choose. I love my purple PY Hemlock but 4 ply i soooo slow growing when you have 500 plus stitches per round ... must get some time in on that one.

I have been wondering, what would you knit for a family heirloom to pass down to future generations?

Go see the hemlocks you wont regret it.

Little things

First - the little knitting is over on the Hipknits project Club Blog (click on the button on the right to go see) There hasn't been much of it I have to say.

The other things round here right now are the little socks and little vest and little shoes and little trousers etc. etc. etc. we have a new visitor and L is gorgeous. Haven't had such a little baby to look after for ages and I had forgotten how yummy they are. This one is easy - sleeps beautifully and smiles broadly when cooed to, very rewarding. Having lots of fun playing with the visitor just sorry i can't share photos :o( but Fostering bods are quite, rightly and understandably, strict about that sort of thing. I'd love to 'share' but I can't.

I learn from having a new bub here that I wish i knew how easy bubs can be when my own were little, I wish I had known about establishing routines and about being calm to receive calm - guess some things do get easier as you get older ;o) Meanwhile I learn that being 4 1/2 is hard work whatever the age of the (foster) parent. K started school this week and it's hard being 4 1/2 for me and for her too. She's so tired and so feisty and on the one hand this is a great joy when I think where she has come from and how she was when she first arrived. Thank goodness she can name her needs and insist upon them being met. On the other hand it makes for many challenges during the day. Must remember about being calm for her too ;o) She is a lovely thing (in bursts) and she is a wild, free, uninhibited thing too. My lovely whirlwind girl.

to bed... to sleep...

My other car's a Porche

or ... my next Hemlock will be Aran.

Please amuse your selves whilst I continue going round, and round, and round... you get the idea?

All my WIP (of which there are 3 worth talking about) are at the round and round stage. This whilst very 'process' it also a tad tiresome so I have decided I shall also cast on a new project.

It's time I made mt Della!

I am going to blog her step by step over on the project club blog starting on Thursday with the cast on. (Button in sidebar if you want to watch!)

This will be a nice change as the other projects are all 4 ply and I like a little lace weight lace in my life :o)

OK, in the meantime, I am off to go round and .... you know the rest.

C.A.N.T.S.T.O.P.H.E.M.L.O.C.K.

I think I might ...















be ...
















enjoying ...
















this .....
















knitalong.















*Sighs!*

Hemlocking along

All other wips are cast aside in favour of Hemlock. Poor things languishing in their bags, waiting ... waiting....

Meanwhile I go round and round and round... you get the idea :o)

Here's a little photo to keep you interested. No, that isn't the colour of my carpet! I laid it on one of the foam mats i use for blocking so that you can see some of the lace. As the photo was taken last night I had to use the flash so the yarn is a bit washed out and the foam is Zing! in your face but you can see the shapes. My only KP Options cable longer than this one is v...e...r...y long so I'll have to scrunch up on this one for a while before transferring. From the photograph i notice it looks like there might be a purl row in there after the pattern but there isn't, yet. Still toying with the idea of throwing in a few purles :o) But knitting ss for now.

OK of to be good and load some more wedding photos into Flickr for the rellies to look at.

All my knitting is going round and round and round at the moment and for once I am not dizzy, the knitting is. LOL

Is that better?

OK, think of it in the same colours of the last one but slightly less fuzzy in this one, I can't stop knitting long enough to get a tripod!

And btw, I have sold the children so that i can knit :o) (no, not really, she's just being incredibly quiet today on the promise of a trip to the library this afternoon ... my time is running out ) *shock*

Another taste of Hemlock

I must learn to be patient, I must learn to be patient, I must ... etc.

If I took a little more time I could get better photographs for you :o) But I am whizzing along with Hemlock and she is growing so quickly that this is probably the last chance to see er spread out.

I started on 4.5 dpns and have just transferred at row 36 to circs. Another few rows and I'll be off the written instructions (which have an error in row 35 btw - but it's an easy one to spot so I'm sure you'll see it) and on to the chart. I am using the modified chart from the yahoo group so hopefully that will be error free.

I just need to decide whether to do Old Shale (with the purl row) or feather 7 fan (without) What do you think? The original (see brooklyntweed's blog) is smooth and gorgeous, the purl row would introduce some more texture ... hmm... so hard to decide I will eventually do both I think, but which one first ????

Off to get a better photo as this will be my last chance... back in a minute :o)

Hemlock is otn

Hemlock002
Originally uploaded by Jam_mam.

Couldn't wait, had to do it. Got to row 26 then had to go to bed. It's a real shame when life interrupts knitting, but work will resume asap. It's lovely, it grows quickly, and the yarn is absolutely scrumptious to knit with. See the ss sections? Aren't they delicious? Quite a good colour representation on my monitor too, ah! What more could a girl ask for, knitting, purple, sensuousness. *sigh* And, yes, lots of people are doing it whih adds to the fun :o)

Hemlock Yarn

This is my yummy Posh Yarn Emily.

I seem to have a purple thing going on :o) *blushes*

Left to right Damson, 3 x Magnus, Peal *Happy Sigh!

The sheep were my present to me when we went to Alnwick Castle during the holidays - I nicked the idea of them guarding the stash for photographs from Annette :o)

The Hemlock takes two 300yd skeins of brooklyntweeds chosen yarn, Cascade Ecological Wool which is a Heavy Worsted - now I may very well be wrong here but I am thinking that it's a thick Aran/Chunky weight so I will need more yardage for the same size throw. I am planning on knitting the 3 Magnus and seeing how big it is. That is a fairly firm decision at present but give me time and I will change my mind *rolls eyes* I am also drawn to starting with the Damson changing to the Magnus and finishing with the Peal. But I might have to move house to be able to block her if I use all 5 and I'd like to try the pattern alteration to Old Shale by adding the purl rows as well as the version as charted. Ho hum.

Strangely the other project (the one we can't mention) is also having a lot of Old Shale at the moment (round and round and round she goes) so maybe this is my mindless knitting phase.

Today I had an hour and a half of pure, uninterrupted knitting bliss :o) Sadly I then spent all afternoon feeling that I haven't actually done any work today as there have been no housewifery/motherly goings on prior to the big kids coming in from school. Maybe this just goes to show that I am never pleased, or more positively (and therefore, I like to think, more likely) I just haven't had enough therapy yet. Bring it on.

And finally, winding the Emily into balls today, led to winding the Middle Earth Yarns DK BFL. DD2 insisted we do 'more spinney things, Mummy' - she likes turning the handle and has not heard of the ills of child labour. I faltered and nearly switched to a project cast on in the Foamy Seas instead - it is so very very squishy and soft and boy, you have to be soft to outsquish Emily

But I resisted, I have plans for Foamy Seas and they require some thought and some charting so I want the head space that will require to be fully available and not doing a time share with the trivia currently therein. So wait, squishy skeins, your time will come.

What she said ...

Not much from me today, but I'd like to point you in the direction of the following blogs. With apologies to those who already read these.

http://brooklyntweed.blogspot.com/ Scroll down to see the hemlock throw. I am going to do one of these in the Emily I have been unable to resist from Posh Yarn in various shades of purple over the last few weeks. I didn't know why I 'needed' it but now I do.

http://theraineysisters.com/ Susan has just completed a Hemlock Throw and gave an interesting illustration of how to count the rows for the feather and fan pattern here. I left a comment on this post. It still amazes me that real knitters send me emails when I leave comments on their blogs. Amazes and delights. Susan said - 'do it your way, it's your knitting', or words to that encouraging effect :o) So I will do two hemlocks, one with the purl ridges I associate with the feather & fan/Old Shale pattern, and one as written. I found the Rainey sisters because of the American Aran Afghan, another project on the 'to do' list - I have a huge stash of Aran that my conscience wants put to a good use.

Isn't it wonderful that knitting is a community? When I knit pre Internet it was a solitary occupation/pastime how I agree with Dee when she says she wishes she had more time for her hobbies and remembers how she had no hobbies when she had lots of time. Actually, I 'sort of' agree. The bit I am not sure of is the word 'hobbies'. Maybe I have a skewed idea of the importance of Hobbies. Knitting is much more important than that! It is essential, vital, life enhancing, daily, crucial, ... you get the picture?

Before I forget, there is a yahoo groups for the Hemlocky.

I am looking forward to next week, when everyone is back at school and I can get some space to clear all the clutter from my head. It builds up slowly over the holiday. The noise and constant alertness to the demands of others (with no time off for good behaviour) fills up all the space in my head so there is no room for anything else. I need to empty out some of those compartments and reorder what needs to remain. The first step is tomorrow, as a chapter of fostering closes and another phase begins. Unfortunately all of that is confidential. Suffice to say, things should be getting easier soon.

As the week approaches the pages in the diary are empty but each day brings another appointment and Tuesday is already looking full. I hoard the pages carefully and resent the need to add a scrawled engagement to their pages, I want them to remain empty and white, at least a few of them, I need the space in my timetable (and in my head) that the space on the page represents. I know DD1 will need me to be available (thank God for mobile phones) but I don't want to write any more Social Worker appointments in there just yet.

I need that week.

I want to knit a Hemlock :o) It's therapy!

And finally, I did a good deed today, a knitterly thing too. I gave my straight needles (which I will never use again now that I have the KP Options, a couple of duplicate patterns, and some yarn (so she could knit when she got home without having to wait to buy yarn) to the lady who is C's foster carer. When she dropped him off for his respite stay she mentioned that she used to knit a lot (constantly) years ago but had stopped because her ex didn't like her knitting as it took her attention away from him! Good reason to be an ex, I think! And a good excuse to reinfect her with the knitting bug. Feeling smug about that! Maybe that's it, knitting is not my hobby it's my illness and obsession. And she was very pleasingly delighted too.

Nearly There

Nearly! Summer is nearly over, kids nearly back to school.

I am taking Tom to enrol for his A2s tomorrow evening. He got an A in Computing and a B in Chemistry at AS level. Phew!

Things may be about to get a little rocky as we (he) adjusts to a new timetable and new support worker and to the college pushing him to add another course to his programme. Whilst they have been very supportive in person they are quite inflexible in practice, mainly due to the way their funding is structured. But we'll get there. He survived a wedding and didn't have any meltdowns until he was within spitting distance of home. 3 nights in a hotel room which stank of smoke (non-smoking preferred does not guarantee you a non-smoking room - apparently), 3 days of lots of relatives and moving from place to place at a moments notice, a wedding with lots of 'stand here' 'smile for the photograph' and 'my, haven't you grown'. Delays on the railway, cramped conditions on the train with two loads of passengers on, squash, squash, irritated people everywhere, taxi's without boot space (! What is the point of a taxi which cannot take your bags to the station and home again?!) Loud music, food you don't like and people eating that food next to you. All were tolerated with forbearance and I promised him he will never be commanded to attend again. Amazing that he can stand it now. Makes we realise how very far we have come. How very far he has come.

Gratuitous photo of the happy couple - ahhhh! :o)

Back to rant about 'the system' -

Arbitrary rules about numbers of hours, with no reference to the effort required to put in those hours at college, may cause more stress than necessary. However, he does have to live in the real world, and the real 'social' world does have arbitrary rules, whether I like them or not. So we will see. Last academic year (as well as getting an A and a B) Tom also learnt to use the metro to go to his favourite shop. This term we are aiming for him using the bus to get to and from college. This means we have to practice the route, accompanied at first, then supported, then by himself. You don't realise how much effort goes in to catching the right bus and getting off at the right stop until you are with someone who has to learn how to do it.

Littlest Miss starts in reception next week too, afternoons only for the first week, afternoons plus lunchtime the next week and then all day in week 3. Another one starting out on that journey. She will thrive and grow and flourish. She is a social creature. I hardly knew she was there at the wedding , she was off being a social butterfly, stealing the limelight and thoroughly enjoying it all. Number 2 son was also in his element. How different everything is for them. Even DD1 had her own way of dealing with the people stuff. Not a natural socialite she too was shattered by the time we got back, but her social camouflage is better than DS1's and she is able to blend more seamlessly than he. The effort required to do so should not be underestimated however, and she also needed time to recover after the whirlwind had passed.

Me? I enjoyed it. I worried about them not/enjoying it. I took the photos. That fact in itself shows how far Tom has developed, in years gone by stepping back to photograph other people would have been out of the question.

We are also looking forward to the arrival of our next foster child once DD2 is settled in reception.

For now, I need a holiday to get over the holiday. I wonder why I thought an extra day in a hotel would make the wedding easier rather than harder. I wonder why I thought a week between our holiday and the wedding was a good idea. But I do know that the holiday was good, and that it made me feel relaxed and recharged. And your little sister doesn't get married to her Mr Perfect every day does she?

Oh and knitting?

Firstly, a project I can't show you as it's a secret. This one is just going round and round and round until there's enough border to balance the centre.

Secondly, a little piece of design extravagance which is my first go at knitted lace as opposed to lace knitting (I think or it might be the other way round) the one where there is pattern on all rows? I'll add a photo of that later, (this section is lace knitting - if I have those two the right way round) although the colour never comes out. It's in Dee's Eva and it is gorgeous, have a look at Dee's blog - she's wondering about how personal is too personal. I would love to include more photographs of the kids but I too wonder how much information is too much information and I am not allowed to blog the fostered children anyway. When I photograph us I tend to photograph the whole family :o)

Thirdly, lots of books here to welcome me home. American Aran Afghan, Shawls & scarves, lots of interweave socks (thought I'd have a practice before the hipknits project club socks arrive) all 4 of these are excellent books, glad I got them all. I need more days to knit in. Ah well, maybe the next foster child will sleep a lot! *fingers crossed but that makes it hard to knit*

Heads

This evening I hd planned to give lots of info about wip - of which there are many.

But I am having a full on headache - probably in anticipation of going away tomorrow when I haven't really got back from going away last week. It's one o those heads where you are sort of stonned, removed from your environment, wrapped up in cotton wool, slightly deranged _ oh dear - not an evening for blogging. turn that pc off!

So no more bloggy until Sunday at the earliest, have a lovely weekend and I hope the weather stays nice, now shall I pack coats? What exactly are coats again? And why would I need them? I really feel most odd :o)

Annette does Della!

And, boy, she does her good! Go see this. Isn't it amazing?

I am so very very chuffed at how wonderful Della looks. I was thinking that I would try a different border for my Della - when I have a little time to knit it *rolls eyes* but having seen Annette's I think I will knit it as written with, perhaps, the addition of a central motif. Annette's looks so good.

I generally do think lace looks best in solid or semi solid colours and that Della goes to prove it. Having said that I hope no one who chose a variegated yarn will be disappointed as the original Della looked lovely too, but Annette's modifications to the original are finishing touches which are the icing on the cake.

Talking of cakes, off to my little sister's wedding this weekend coming and I've been in town with the incredibly "I-don't-want-to be-here" four year old and the "impossible-to-choose-when-I-don't-know-what-I-am-looking-for" 14 year old. After 3 hours of tantrums (me too) we came away with the perfect, stunning outfit for the 14 yr old (well she's a size 10 everything looks good on her) and the hot/bothered/cantankerous "I don't want to go to a wedding" 4 year old.

I managed to find a skirt for £5 (DD1's frock was a LOT more than that) and a pair of trousers which don't fit properly (am I really an elephant, when did that happen?). So, sewing machine out tomorrow to make a waist on the trousers as there are no belt loops to oik (sp?) it up with and God only knows what shoes I'll wear with the skirt.

I don't do shoes! DD has already amassed a vast shoe collection and she's only liked them for 12 months whereas in my 42 years I have managed to buy one pair of Docs, two identical pairs of trainers and a pair of boots that cripple me and are never worn. Now, if I liked shoes a wedding would be the perfect excuse but as I don't (in fact I hate shopping for shoes, they never fit and they make my feet hurt) I shall probably convince myself that the black Converse that DD grew out of before they got much wear, will do fine and turn up in those. Well... it's a long skirt no one will notice. Or, if they do ... will I care?

The skirt is ankle length and a light turquoise, the trousers are black and my one good shirt is white so I'll look like a waitress if I wear that :o)

Just wondering if I could knock a Della up by next weekend?

No, probably not!

Oh well, I think the Queen of the Waves might get an outing then, or maybe the Forest Canopy. I do like purple, in case you hadn't noticed.

More about the holiday another time, it was great and the extra sleep mended my dizzies, for now. It's lovely to have 'Terra' back being 'firma'.