Saturday 28 February 2009

Skiing and thick socks.....


Is it only a week since our last day of skiing in Courcheval? Seems longer! We had an awesome week. Obviously it was great to spend time with son & heir. He is having the time of his life & seems to be doing really well on his GAP ski instructors course. Why wouldn't he be? He is skiing every day, in the best ski season in Europe for 25 years, with a group of like minded & likable young people and his own skiing abilities are being even further developed by the fantastic team from 'New Generation' Ski School. We also had huge fun introducing my sister & brother in law to skiing. At least one of them is officially hooked & both report dreaming of snow every night since we got back!!!!

Teaching uncle!


The bobble hats were needed. The sun shone most days, but temperatures stayed low!

On the knitting front, my current 'obsession' (me...obsessed with knitting? Surely not!!!) is thick socks. I currently have two pairs on the needles & yarn lined up for more. I have used DK yarn (Regia Crazy Colors for me, Kaffe Fasset Regia Landscape for himself) & usual 2.5 mm needles to make a 'springy' dense sock for walking boots & shoes. Just stocking stitch for travel knitting but perhaps something more interesting next. I will upload the photos soon. I am also trying to 'perfect' toe up sock knits & use up all of the yarn!

I long to go back to the snow......................................

Monday 9 February 2009

Modern Art?

I found dumpr.net & turned this photo of Mr J & Moss into a exhibit in a Museum of Modern Art!

Daft but quite entertaining!

I usually use Bighugelabs.com for such silliness/ effects. This gentleman (I think it was a tup) was photographed on our Sunday walk near to the interestingly named Kettlesing Bottom. The effect is 'Motivational Poster'!


No effects, but pretty much summarises the conditions that remain up here 'under paw'!

Thursday 5 February 2009

Winter days

Snow came to Nidderdale just as it did to many parts of the UK. I didn't get a 'snow day' though! Actually the local council did a fantastic job of keeping our roads open. The snow plough ran through the night on Sunday night & the gritters just keep going. I think the worst roads I encountered were last night in Harrogate but it didn't stop me getting to 'Knit Night'. Having a 4x4 truck really comes into its own at times like these!


I have been a 'little knitting demon' for the last couple of weekends. I have knitted 3 bobble hats. One 'Utopia' in Drops Alaska (purple one). One big cream tea cosy in Drops Eskimo & One blue (with blue & orange pom pom -very important) in Drops Karisma. The last two are my own pattern based on a simple twisted stitch. I may get round to writing up the pattern because it seems to make a 'lofty' warm hat, even in the DK weight. The yarn for the three cost £14! All are 100% wool. Son & heir bought a cute (but acrylic) cabled bobble hat in France,just before we left, for a little over £25!!!!!
My Nutkin socks & DH's hut socks are finished. The Nutkin pattern is a simple treat of a sock! They may become another favorite alongside 'No purl monkeys' & 'Queen Carolina's (also without her purls!).
I have also 'designed' and knit another cowl in Malabrigo chunky. For 'designed' read 'cast on 64 stitches, knit one row of K2 P2 & then decide to go off piste with a few cables after some very simple Maths! It was knit on 8mm circular to give quite a firm cowl -a polo neck without the jumper kind of thing, which will hopefully keep my neck, ears & face warm skiing.
What else have we been up to? Work? Let's not go there! We have managed some good weekend walks with Moss, getting some fresh air for an hour or so. We went to Linton, near Grassington, for a stroll en route to tea at the 'outlaws' the other Saturday. This was lovely. We have walked the lanes nearer home & last Sunday went to Fountains Abbey. Funny that I have never noticed this before.....

Son & heir continues to have an awesome time in France. It keeps snowing there too, but with sunshine in between!

Happy February!