Winter Hope, Part Two

Last official day of Winter. Relief. Regret. I really wanted to BE in the moment this Winter and not overwhelmed with the grey and gloom and dread of the thing. I wanted to hibernate and craft and read with my babies. But I was busy, much too busy, to focus on the good of Winter. I regret that. But today I'm filled with relief that there will soon be, I HOPE, some more colour in my life. Some snapshots of colour I found today. In our home. In one of our favourite places.

I HOPE that next year, Winter and I can come to a more comfortable accommodation with one another. Thank you, Blog and those who've kept me company, for getting me through.

Winter Wardrobe Wednesday

This was Outfit Number Two today. Outfit Number One was almost a rehash of last Wednesday, except I had a Schoolhouse Tunic over a Glassons top;-)

This was too rumpty to reveal in full glory. Max long sleeve tee, homemade yoga pants, gumboots. Yes, my gumboots DO match the kids ones;-)

And yes, that IS a nice spot to have a glass of wine while popping seeds into trays!

Winter Hope

It's that time of year. Slightly longer days. More sunshine. A little bit warmer. Spring gardening inspiration is bubbling away. The kids and I have started weeding a couple of the garden beds we have here.

Hubby's pruned A5's little apple tree and I've popped some new herbs around the base. M10 is planning her own mini-medieval style herb garden too.

I've started to sort through our "seed bank" and peruse catalogues. I missed planting the seeds by the moon calendar this month but we'll forge ahead.

I bought some seedlings for a bit of instant satisfaction.

We've put in a bit of prettiness at the front of the house. Allysum, lobelia, geranium, chamomile and lavender are there to keep the bees and Mummy happy too.

We've prepped our small plot at the Community Garden on our street. We discovered wee strawberry plants dotted around so we've popped them together so they're easier to protect from the birds. Some calendula has gone in there too. We still have our two larger allotment plots, and are deciding what to put in them.

So what's happening at your place?

Winter Reading

I love my reading. Latest obsession? 19th Century British "chick lit". I hadn't even heard of these books till I read around the blogosphere that peeps were watching the Beeb series based on them. So I've joined the cool kids and watched Cranford. LOVE. I mean, how can you go wrong with Judi Dench?

This weekend it'll be Lark Rise to Candleford - most excited.

I anticipate it to be far less personally confronting than my other Winter Reading;-) I've stalled on Radical Homemakers while I turn back the clock a century or two!

Winter Craft, Part Two

I don't feel that I can really call this gigantor-style project knitting! I'm making rag rugs for the kids out of t-shirt yarn I found at the garden centre for tying plants to stakes. It is very awkward but hopefully will look cool;-) I'll try a crochet one too. I'm avoiding the braiding plus sewing method as it seems like too much hard work.

Winter Wardrobe Wednesday

I'm gonna try this idea of Wardrobe Wednesday, inspired by Rhiannon and Clare. I'm not a huge fan of photos of myself, but since I freely pop photos of other family members here I'll bite the bullet. In the middle of Winter, I'm still feeling bitter and twisted that my Summer Of Frocks didn't eventuate because we had such shocking weather here. So maybe this process will bring me some much-needed oomph to build towards that again!

This is definitely my Mumsy Uniform. I wear a variation on this every day. Toes to Head: Simple shoes - so well loved I need a new pair. Handknit socks. Max jeans, somewhat skinny (although they haven't made me skinny, what the?). Max stripe sweatie. Moa furry hoodie - this is ancient but still going strong. The whole jeans'n'sneakers'n'sweatie vibe is why I want to bust out into some frock action come fine weather!

This is my Tuareg cross. I wear it to remind me that although I lead a very full, mostly-contented life in my own little universe, there IS a world outside. I bought this in Mali many years ago and it reminds me of the mothers and children I have met.

I expect you'll see me in the same thing next Wednesday.

Winter Sun, Part Four

Again, we're making the most of the rare sunshine! (Again, today's weather does NOT look like this at all!) Mum's cold has been great for reading confidence as the girl's take turns to do our daily reading. Look at that white skin!

Some sunny philosophising: If you could change one thing about the world what would it be?

M10: I'd make horses cheaper.

I8: I'd be able to fly.

A5: Everything would be Lego.

Winter Pinks

MORE finished objects...

Socks for I8 using Sheryl's Epicene pattern. Lovely, straight forward toe-up construction. Perfect fit. I now have only three skeins of sock yarn to use in my stash!

Winter Blues

More finished objects...

Socks. Done. Within one week. That's more like it.

I'm not a huge fan of self patterning sock yarn at the moment. But this particular yarn is comfortable and very hard wearing, especially needed for kid's socks! I have another pair on the needles for Next Daughter in queue in the same yarn, different colour. Then I'm embarking on a stint of NZ only sock yarn.

Winter Sun, Part Three

From my bed

Out my bedroom window

This is NOT what I am seeing out of my bedroom window this morning - actually the complete opposite. I don't mind a little bit of opposite weather if I don't have to go out in it. But today I do. I'm doing a training course, one where I have to actively listen and take notes. That means NO knitting. I finished Big Girl's socks yesterday and started Next Girl's and I can't take them with me. After being a bit germy this week I really do hope I can sit outside and catch some glorious winter rays and knit during the upcoming weekend.

Winter Knits, Part Four

Finished Objects...

Socks. Done. Within one year. Phew.

Hand towel. Done. Within a couple of days. Squishy prettiness in my Winter Kitchen.

Next pair of socks on needles ARE being done Two at a Time;-)

Winter. War.

My son was killed while laughing at some jest. I would

I knew

What it was, and it might serve me in a time when jests

are few.

Rudyard Kipling

Winter W.I.P

I forgot.

I forgot how much I love knitting socks. I started these nearly a year ago! They have suffered badly under Second Sock Syndrome until I dragged them out of hibernation this week and cracked on with them. What makes a knitter leave a lone sock in a bag with its half completed mate for nearly a year?

Winter Inside

I have a corner in my lounge that belongs to me. Here is what I can see from my corner inside on a dull Winter day...

Yes, coffee...and chocolate - dark peppermint.

New sock yarn bought from James at the Frank Kitts Market on Saturday.

My Manu. Cardigan has been frogged and sent to the Naughty Corner.

Meal planning for the week.

Girl across the room. Engrossed. Getting through her Newberry Medal list.