Green

Taking a break from the usual oranges and reds, it was high time I knit a couple of things to match my eyes. First up, an adaptation of my very own Bean Beanie pattern from the fabulous, Not Your Mama's Knitting - (who's affraid of a little self promotion? - Not me!): Worked in stripes of Rowan Kid Classic and Kidsilk Haze - it's snuggly :o)
















Here's my second attempt at Clapotis - If you haven't made this wonderful shawl/scarf yet, what are you waiting for ?? I still love dropping those stitches! Knitted this in Mountain Colors Sock Yarn - 2 skeins.






Made it a little skinnier and longer for more of a scarf than a shawl. The bulk of my Clapotis was knitted this past weekend up in Ancram - Jill R's country house. 12 of us spent a cold and frosty weekend snuggled up in the warmth of Camp Roth.









Thanks Jill and everyone involved for making it a relaxing time - I really needed it!!



I think the fresh air might've been a bit too much for Jill A, that little minx is always up to something and always makes me smile ;o)



















As I was too busy playing with my nephew over the Christmas holiday, I didn't get chance to take any photos of him in his new handknits so I asked my brother to send me some. This is what he sent me:
Should I inform child services??

Weather and TV

"Global warming is a Liberal Coup", a friend's friend remarked a couple of years ago.....

I'm inclined to disagree.

Like most people, I love a nice warm and sunny day but couldn't quite properly enjoy the 70 plus degree temperature we had last weekend - it was just wrong!
Here are a few snapshots I took on a walk around the park.

Ice, what ice?







There is a beautiful statue in Central Park that I hadn't seen in real life before, (as I tend to hang around the reservoir by my doorstep).
It has been featured in films and TV programmes many times, most notably, (for me anyway), in a recent-ish and rather good, mini-series called, "Angels in America".

Here's Angel of the Waters at Bethesda Fountain:




And a close-up of the beautiful face that spookily creaks up to face the camera in the dramatic titles of the aforementioned show:
















And a pretty shot of the boating lake - which would normally be frozen, but plenty of people were out, making the most of the unseasonably gorgeous day.






The weather is closer to normal now, although still warm enough for me to stomp around the park without hat, scarf and mittens to go splashing through the puddles wearing my new wellies, (thanks Ju-pot!)



When will I get to wear my new knits? (Photos still need to be taken.....)

In other news.... I managed to get tickets for my boss and I to be audience members at a recording of "Martha" last Thursday morning.
And here's the poof:







It was an interesting experience and I found Ms Stewart to be impressively professional and quite quick witted off camera.

Guests on that particular show were two very real, taletend, charming and vertically challenged women - Aunt Flora, who baked a Vegetable Cobbler and Eugenia Kim who showed us how to make a gorgeous, red feather cloche. She also quoted a site where you can purchase the feathers - love this name!
We were presented with a copy of her book - which is fabulous!
I look forward to trying my hand at making a few of them - but as my plate is rather full at the mo - don't hold your breath!!

Billy No Mates

All the Cool kids are doin' it....

My Production Assistant at the day job is always on MySpace when the boss isn't looking. I thought it was just for teenagers looking for online romance but it seems as though I was mistaken. At the end of the workday, yesterday, she showed me how to get a page of my own. My Feeble attempt is here.

As I am crap at all this and way behind everyone else.... I only have three friends - thank goodness for Tom!!! If anyone wants to join me in being a cyberspace friend, you know where to find me ;o)

Miss Woodshed

My niece doesn't like her nickname, which makes us tease her with it even more!
She's great fun and has tonnes of energy!!! It was really lovely to spend time with her over Christmas.
I managed to finish the sweater I made for her just in time to give to her at a little dinner party we had over at the farm. (I say little dinner party, as illness prevented most of the guests from attending, so it was just my Mum and I being spoilt by my sister's fabulous cooking.
Here's the chunky cotton jumper, (mysterious, unmarked, stash yarn) - I used every last little centimetre, meaning that the sleeves weren't as long as I had planned - but that stops them from getting in her dinner, right?




Here's the little munchkin wearing it over her fairy dress, sitting with her favorite Aunty:




And 3 generations of the Dixon women, (except that the little one has a different last name....she's still one of us!)






It's a tough life being almost 5. Here she is sat atop one of Mummy's horses, (She had her own mini horse, a sheltland pony before she could walk!):








And just like Daddy's, her own little tractor:






We had some fun together, didn't we? I'll miss you!

NYC SnB

I had a few shots of the group taken on Tuesday evening at the Point.
The Point is a fab place to hang out and knit - you should check it out sometime :o)
Thanks Berhan for being photographer, (although he says that he doesn't read this!)
I love this group! - Aren't we a handsome bunch!

Resolutions...

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

How did you spend the birth of 2007?

I flew back to NYC yesterday.
My holiday is over and I didn't get anywhere near as much done as I had hoped. This was due to the cold I caught which zapped all of my energy, but it did mean that I was forced to rest - something that I've not been very good at recently, so perhaps it was for the best!
Thank you to my family for making it a lovely Christmas - I hope to see you all again soon and not leave it a whole year again til i do so!
There are photos that need to be posted, but will have to wait for another day...

I arrived back at the tiny dark apartment in the afternoon. I'm alone here AGAIN as the boyfriend is STILL IN MONTREAL. It's his birthday today, but seeing as though I made the effort to come back to celebrate with him and he didn't, then HE GETS NOTHING!!!!
As you might gather, I'm a little miffed about this and so I should be!!

After having a good long chat with me old mate, Valda, (who stayed at home in New Hampshire for the holidays and not back in her native Leicester), I retired to bed for a "nap", which after 7 hrs, was dissrupted by the booming sounds of the fireworks at midnight! Whoops....I missed the ball drop! I put on the telly to watch some of the revellers in Time Square, (rather them than me!), called the boyfriend to leave a message of Happy New Year and Happy Birthday, but he didn't answer....... I jumped back into bed where I stayed until 5:30am.
Since then I have been re-knitting the second sleeve of my secret menswear project and it's probably where I'll stay for the rest of the day. (I want this project over with - I've still got to write the pattern out properly.)

My Mum wants me to knit her a cardigan. I bought her some yarn when we were in John Lewis in Nottingham. I hope to start it tomorrow at our Stitch N Bitch meeting....

So, onto my New Year's resolutions.....I hope to be able to keep these:

1. Buy more yarn.
2. Knit, a lot.
3. Maybe do a bit of crochet too.
4. Try to get to the gym I pay for at least 3 times this year.
5. Eat delicious food.
6. Buy more clothes desighed for girls about 20 years younger than me.
7. Think about spending more time outside.
8. Enjoy being with and having a good old laugh with my friends.
9. Talk about getting my website in order.
10. Think, A LOT about holidays in hot climates.

I should be able to manage these - what'd'ya think?