Wibbo's Words

A couple of things

Pink kalanchoe from the Co-op in Blatchington Road.

New pincushion made from a needlepoint stitch sample (Jacquard stitch) backed with flowery cotton fabric and stuffed with animal wool. 

Now, let's see...

For most of this year I've been busy sorting, clearing, chucking, charity-shopping all kinds of stuff. I probably have still more stuff that I need but it's now down to a more manageable size. I don't collect things any more but do get attached to those I have, particularly to books. 

There has been knitting. And frogging. This blue number is one of my better efforts.

A beaded Summerleaf shawl for a friend's birthday - details on Ravelry.

I'm back to low carb eating and feel better/have more energy than earlier this year. Have a nice crustless quiche - this one is broccoli and smoked mackerel.

The builders have gone, the scaffolding is down and my balcony pots have new plants - a blue daisy (Felicia amelloides), a scented pelargonium (Concolour Lace) and a yellow-flowering plant (below) that had lost its label.

 

Can anyone identify it?

Coughs and sneezes

Herbert Mayo Bateman, from the "Coughs & Sneezes Spread Diseases" series commissioned by the Ministry of Health, England, 1942, image © The National Archives.

There has been a lot of coughing/sneezing over the past week or so; I'm feeling much better now so here's a quick round-up of what's been going on here. 

The amaryllis flowers are now over, but were lovely while they lasted.

A new LYS has opened in the city - YAK Yarn and Knitting at 16, Gloucester Road, Brighton, BN1 4AD. Opening times: Tue - Sat 10am - 6pm, Sun 11am - 4pm. I managed a quick visit before the cold germs struck. YAK's official Grand Opening is this Saturday, February 7th, 2pm - 6pm.

The 2014 Advent Calender Scarf is coming along nicely; I have four more patterns left to knit. The impossible-to-photograph yarn colour's darker/richer/nicer in real life.

The first flower is out

Nearly out...

...and there's a second bud shooting upwards - bonus!

We have lift-off...

It's that amaryllis time of year again; this bulb was a Christmas present from Julie. Two buds have appeared so far - more photos when the flowers arrive.

I'm finally getting my teeth into a Ravelry KAL (knit-a-long for those of you who haven't come across the term KAL before). It's the 2014 Advent Calender Scarf (Rav link) and you got one clue/chart every day during Advent. What with one thing and another, I didn't start knitting until January. The photo shows days 4, 5, 6 and 7; the scarf is knitted in Wollmeise Lace-Garn, colourway Flaschenpost.

This is Jackie with her lovely granny square blanket in the Jubilee Library, Brighton. The Knitting Group meets at the library every Tuesday from 10am to 12 noon. If you knit or crochet, do come along and join us!

Coming along

The herbs are growing nicely; the lobelia a bit more slowly. 

Charity shop find of the week was this unused 100% linen tea towel for £1.50. Designed by Pat Albeck, it's this year's National Trust calender featuring fruit and vegetables.

This and that

I'm still looking for my knitting mojo but I have started a new crochet blanket.

DK oddments and sock-yarn-used-double, 4mm hook; pattern is Gary's Ripple from 200 Ripple Stitch Patterns  which looks like it's out of print these days.

Planted up several containers on the balcony - sage, lemon thyme, flat leaf parsley and Morrocan mint. Since I took this photo, I've added clumps of Lobelia String of Pearls to the containers. The bay tree on the left is one of the few plants to survive last winter's waterlogging although the lower leaves are brown-edged due to wind and salt damage.

Flossie has been sitting in the sunshine, prowling around the flat and being a general nuisance. Nothing new there then...

Feeling better and more colourful

The post title says it all really - The Cold has gone and I'm feeling more optimistic!

I have lovely scented freesias and Madam is happily occupied guarding my socks.

A bit of a nothing week

Tax return done - tick; socks washed - tick; knitting - tick; reading - tick.

Er, can't think what else. I've been busy all week but haven't got much to show for it. The weather's been very curate's egg lately.

The amaryllis has two more flowers almost out...

...and suddenly it's Friday.  Heigh ho...

It's out...

Nearly there...

Purple pussy willow

Just a sprinkle

A little powdery snow fell this morning but I'm cheered up by a splash of yellow from miniature daffies. A day to stay put at home, I think.

Still trying to decide on a new blog theme - this one's the best so far although I'm not sure if the grey stripes make an attractive background or they're just plain boring....

Growing

Bulbs on the balcony are starting to sprout and it's time for me to come out of winter hibernation. Yarnwise, I've almost finished a third blanket, this one made out of Colinette Jitterbug. Luscious yarn in luscious colours.

Flossie is, as usual, lost in contemplation.

Sunshine and organisation

First, the sunshine.

Now, the organisation. Four capacious drawers of glorious organisation. Be still, my beating heart!

All I need now is the box of suspension files that's on its way...

Now, what have I been up to?

A lot of crochet and knitting, mainly for presents so unbloggable at the moment. Projects on the needles include a Nuvem (Rav link) which is about half done; it's growing very slowly now with umpteen stitches to a round. I haven't counted the stitches because the enormous number would seriously put me off doing any more and I don't want it to lurk unfinished...

The weather has been fairly unspeakable until a couple of days ago when the big yellow thing in the sky appeared for more than a couple of minutes at a time and the wind changed to a gentle breeze. In spite of the lousy weather, my balcony pots are looking lovely - mainly pansies and violas in white, lilac, purple and yellow.

I've finally got rid of the pigeons - 30 quid's worth of bird spikes has done the trick and I can now enjoy sitting outside in peace without pigeon crap everywhere. My balcony does have a certain Alcatraz feel to it though...

Flossie's very happy and enjoying the outside world and the sun. Here she is, soaking up the last bit of yesterday's sunshine.

I haz colour on my balcony...

...and three tiny solar-powered lights that sparkle at night.

It's pink

Eventually

After what seems like weeks, we finally haz a bud! I've grown lots of amaryllis bulbs over the years and this is the first time I've seen a bud appear after the leaves have grown to full size. Now for the flower...