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.

A Spring Walk

This weekend Braveheart's sister, brother in law and one of his nephews came for a visit. We were delighted to welcome them, as they had not seen our house and garden before. We went for a walk together along the Wey Navigation, where I saw these lovely, cheerful pots of flowers on one of the houseboats.

I loved this spring blossom

and these brightly coloured barges

 and this graceful swan by the weir

I also completed a new project this weekend, this crochet lace doily. I am quite addicted to doily making at the moment.

The Path is Long, with Many a Winding Turn...

We've been spending some time in the garden, and here is our new garden path! It will run from the house all the way down to the vegetable bed, and I think it really pulls the garden layout together.

While I was outside, I took some photos of the garden emerging into Spring:

An apple tree, planted last Spring

Japanese Maple, planted last Autumn

Broccoli

Garlic

Shallots