A Burns Night to Remember

Last night, as it was Burns Night, we planned to have haggis, neeps and tatties for dinner and a wee dram, as one does. I'd had a very frustrating day at work during which I achieved less than nothing, so I was looking forward to getting home, getting the housework out of the way and having dinner.

Braveheart went out at 4pm to pick up Littlest and I started my housework. At 4.10 pm I received a phone call to say the car had broken down about 100 m along the road and could I go and get Littlest. I couldn't believe it. There was obviously some potent frustrating energy in the air which was going to prevent me from completing anything. 

So I stopped cleaning, grabbed my coat and bag and went to get Littlest. Once we got back we walked along the road to where BH's car was stopped in a not very convenient place. We tried to push the car back off the roadside and out of the way and succeeded to some extent but there was an upward slope and we were not strong enough to push the car right up. 

BH then had the idea that we try to push the car out onto the busy road in the middle of the rush hour,  do a U turn to get it facing in the other direction,  then push it back towards  home and then across the busy road into our driveway. Littlest (14), who has never driven a car, would steer while we pushed. It was immediately clear that this was not a great idea. 

So Braveheart called the RAC. They said it would be 3 hours so we all went back home in the warm and I got on with my cleaning which I did in fact finish. After that things got better as the RAC called after only one hour and said they were almost there. BH went off to meet them and in the end the RAC man took the car to the garage and dropped BH off at home on his way back, so I didn't have to go out and I used the time to prepare the vegetables for dinner. 

So we got our haggis, neeps and tatties, which was delicious, and boy, did I need that dram!

In the meantime I have been working away at my candy colours scarf and here is what it looks like now:

Not much more to do!

Winter Walk

Today we went for a walk in the snow. It's snowing again, lightly and persistently, but was quite pleasant to walk in.

This robin thought we might have some food for him, so he followed us for quite a way.

 These photos are of RHS Wisley in the snow.

Then back home for a nice hot bowl of soup!

Snow!

It's not much, about 15cm, but I really love snow so woohoo!
The garden looks mysterious, cold and serene under its coating of snow. There are unexplained animal footprints hinting at an unknown night world which we normally see no traces of.

Indoors my candy colours scarf is quite a lot longer, but the ball of yarn still has plenty to go! So I've started a new project, a modular shawl.

It's so addictive. Just one more block! I'm trying not to neglect the candy colours scarf, though, as I would like to get it finished this month. I have a few too many WIPs at the moment...

Candy Colours

I'm knitting this simple lace scarf out of handspun which I have had in my stash for a good four years.   I am mainly knitting it in lamplight because of the time of year, which means that I can see it is pink but not any subtle variances in the colours. Today I looked at it in daylight and was amazed to see all the shades which were emerging. I think it's going to be lovely.

A New Book

Today when I got home this lovely book had arrived. It has lots of beautiful, richly coloured and textured  crochet afghans in it, and also introduces some new crochet techniques to me - cables, entrelac and tunisian crochet. I am enjoying reading it for now, but I look forward to trying some of the projects in due course. More great winter things to do!

Things To Do in January

January always seems to me to be the longest, darkest month of the year. Wait - that's right, it is! So I like to have plenty of creative challenges.

I always need socks in winter, and these Everyday Socks are bright and cheerful as well as warm:

I spun this lace weight yarn about three years ago and have never got around to using it, so now it is becoming a Strangling Vine Lace Scarf.

I also have a knitted lace doily on the needles and a warm winter sweater. And I wouldn't mind making some more socks, too.