Mellow Autumn

What an incredibly varied year we have had.  Autumn is proving no exception.  Mellow and glorious.

My consultant was reassuring.  Apparently I am not waiting to get worse, but making the most of not getting worse.  Mixed feelings.  I certainly am focused on living and staying as fit and healthy as I possibly can.  I am young enough and fit enough to be put forward for a bone marrow transplant when the time comes.  This can extend time for quite a while once you have got over the treatment.  Encouraging.

In the mean time I felt I just had to get away to breathe.  So down to Dorset for a day.  Wonderful.

I came back with renewed energy and positivity.  Healing.

I have been busy making these notion pouches.  Using up lots of bits and giving me a purpose and focus.  I have a Christmas Fair booked at the end of November, so I am hoping that these will make good gifts.

 

 

Autumn Activities

What a stunning start to Autumn! Unfortunately after a fabulous show at Yarndale I have been poorly. Really hit for six. Sniffling and dribbling and unable to swallow, totally miserable in fact. AND totally drained of energy or motivation.

However, today I took the dogs for a lovely stroll round the valley. We picked Sloes for gin and Blackberries for crumbles. We came back with 2 gorgeous bags full.

 

I then picked the Crabapples from my tree plus the Rowan berries along with some herbs I have in the garden. I collected some Quince from my neighbour and started some fruit jellies. The colours are gorgeous and are equally matched with the glorious smells coming from my kitchen. Warm Autumn comforting smells………..

 

I always love making jellies and make some each year. I have learnt that the hedgerow ones are the richest in colour and taste. I experiment with the brewing up stage and add all sorts of things to give the jellies a depth in taste and colour which reflects the time of year in which the fruits were collected.

Tomorrow the jellies will be drained and set and I hope for a row of fabulous coloured jars and a cottage full of Autumn smells.

Yarndale was an amazing show. Yorkshire is stunningly beautiful and the folk up there are so incredibly friendly and warm. I was inspired. Three of the dogs came too and had beautiful walks with brand new smells and LOTS of water!!

 

 Of course I have also been spinning – my friend’s Wensleydale cross Kerry:

Everyone is glad to be home, some more than others!

Early Autumn Inspirations!

What a glorious start to autumn this year! I feel optimistic and inspired which may not be a good thing for my family! The colours in early turn are gorgeous and they have inspired lots of action on the knitting front.

Here are some new designs and new colourways and inspirations ………

I also recovered from my single crochet attempt which turned into a bathmat. The bathmat is successful since it lies beautifully flat if you stand on it! Result!!

Now I am on to new pastures. I saw the Lorna Doone shawl from Natural Dye Studio and I love it. Being a mostly wild child at heart, everything appeals about this design including the name. So for my second attempt I am trying this. As a ‘ps’ I think possibly one should have crocheted a bit more before attempting this! I have reduced the time on a motif from one and a half days to 4 hours now! And have completed in my fashion 8!! This may be my life times work since there are a lot of motifs in the shawl! BUT I still want it and so will plod on…………..