not so everyday xmas tree

Here is my unsual xmas tree. It actually branches i found washed up on the beach, all bleached white from the sea. I have on it my collection of Delft ornaments bought in Amsterdam. See that Ferris Wheel? It was HUGE , biggest wheel ive ever seen, so no, I did not go up on it. Not many other people did either. To be honest, I had been looking forward to going to the Lille xmas market since booking the trip in April, and boy was I disappointed. It was tacky and just awful. There were the mooted 80 stalls, but about half were selling waffles, mulled wine or sausage. This was not what I had expected. The rest of the stalls were selling tat, nothing i would ever dream of giving to anyone. I felt sorry for the bus tours, people being dropped off at this market and the bus driving away, leaving you there all day, luckily Lille has many lovely shops, otherwise you would have had a long day to fill after you had spent all of the 10 mins needed at the market. Oh well, at least ive been now and dont need to wonder what its like, it is supposed to be one of the best in France, goodness knows what the others are like. That sauid we had a lovely holiday and would recommend the Beach Inn on Ostend prom for a meal, lovely staff , warm and cosy on a freezing day, only one of 5 cafes open in th eoff season m id week, but they were worth a mention for the value and size of portions. I was thinking that I wasnt going to be able to have my "Bitterballen" my fav food in Belguim, waffles aside, as the usual cafe we go to was closed, but this place was open and had them on the menu, they were lovey too, followed by icecream, yummy....All for now...XX

long time ago

27 years ago today, i met someone for the very first time. It was a difficult meeting, but not long afterwards I realised it was worth all the effort. I knew nothing about this person, and he, nothing of me.I wondered if I would get along with this person or if in the future we would go our seperate ways, lost to each other, always wondering if i could have done things differently, or staying close but not in each others pockets. I look back at our early times together, muddling along not really knowing if we were getting it right or wrong, time would tell.I know that there are things that should hve been done differently perhaps, but whos to say whats right or wrong good or bad. But I think time has told, and today I look at this person and feel love and joy and hope, because that person is ...My Son, see below then and now

now I know where the time goes

As you can see i have not ben idle in the past few weeks. I have actually made a couple of other things but they wont be seen till after Santa has been....
The weather has been very wet, so its just as well that ive had plenty to do.
I have made a scarf for Lewis and these stitch markers for a friend, also a big cosy mohair wrap for ME!!
My washing machine died...but I have a new one. To be honest, id had my moneys worth from the old one so im not complaining. The new one arrived and a half hour later i had it up and running a test wash, seem to take longer than my old machine but no matter.This one has a quick wash so that will be handy.
Soon we go on our holidays, cant wait! Kate will come round and pick up the mail and feed our adopted stray cat.She is really scared maybe shes gone feral, dont actually know if its a she or not and im not likely ever to find out the way she hisses at me.
Well..cant sit here all day...knitting to do XXX

A knitted plastic bag

This is how to use up all those old plastic bags lurking in the cupboard. To make your bag, see 6th pic below this, first make a big ball of yarn by cutting off the handles and the closed edge of your plastic bags. Then cut them into 2in strips and link them together to make a long piece of yarn, wind into ball. I used about 100 bags to make mine. Cast on 40 sts on size 9mm needles and knit and knit and knit, till you get the length you want.Now put plasters on your fingers where you have blisters! The bag is made from one piece folded in half so you can choose your own size. Once you get to your choosen size, cast off. Then fold the bag over and with good thick garden twine, thread a darning needle and sew up both sides.To make the handles, pleat tog 2 lengths of plastic yarn and 1 length of garden twine, your finished handle is going to be half the length of your pleated yarn. When you get to the length you like, hold the 3 ends of the pleat and push through the bag body at the most convienient place for the handle to be sited and carefully push the pleated ends through a 2in metal washer. Then tie three big knots on top of each other, do this with all 4 handle ends. Finally, thread a darning needlle with a length of twine and sew through the middle of the washer in and out of the bag body all the way round the washer(about 6 times) then tie off close to washer witha surgeons knot.Hey presto a big stretchy bag that hold a lot of shopping.Go on get those needles out and get knitting....X

More knitting pics that i forgot to post earlier

Knitting towards 2010

I have decided to change my blog as I didnt think i was keeping to what the title originally meant. So here we are, a fresh start. Here are some of my latest knits, hot off the needles. I will try and be a good blogger and post regularly, fingers crossed there!!