living is like crocheting patterns to someone else's design

but while one works

one's thoughts are free 

and as the ivory hook dives in and out amongst the wool

all the enchanted princes that ever existed

are free to stroll through their parks

the crochet of things ....

a pause ....

nothing

from the book of disquiet by fernando pessoa

☼ summer break

we love staying at my best friends house

in Andalucia

evening trips to hillside towns

winding up cobbled streets

past white washed buildings

watching the sunset

drinking tinto

dipping our toes in the water at Sancti Petri

collecting stones

falling in love with honey rum

and best of all

knitting by the pool!

♤♠ dig the scene

 last month we took a train to Kendal 

to visit my sister Zoe and her man 

Zoe has an allotment not far from her home

there are traces of the other keen growers

Zoe and Libbie put up canes for peas to scramble

water them in

always work to be done

you can follow Zoe's progress with her plot

in the Lakes with the most beautiful view 

here > http://zoedigsthelakes.blogspot.co.uk

show her some blogging love and follow follow

★ tying the circle, together

April was kind for an hour today

the sun came out

as we hailed to the North, South, East and West

the bride put down her flowers

a hand fasting ceremony 

the joining of Alan and Claire

they jumped the broom

and hailing farewell to the elements

we danced and smiled with the happy couple

love and light to you both

x

✵ cabin fever

 after a never ending Winter

we went out in search of green

 and the promise of blue

and give the trees some love

❤

~~ easter break

the first week of the Easter holidays has flown by

in a haze of chocolate treats and lazy days

so we hopped on the train to the modern brutal

Southbank 

to see Lifework: Norman Parkinson's Century of Style

at the National Theatre

Parkinson really did rewrite the rules of fashion photography

exotic locations, open air shoots, bizarre props

not bad for a man who left school with one qualification

an art school prize

the Southbank is an ever changing space

despite it's concrete and sharp edges

and to soften the grey sky

mexican style

salud!

/ \ knit click purl

my Mama taught me to knit when I was about 8 years old
with my little red plastic needles I started to knit a scarf for my doll
it grew longer and wonkier but I didn't care
I liked it
length was better than stitches dropped
one day a baby sitter thought she'd 'help' me by undoing it all and starting again
but she only knitted a few rows and my long long wonky scarf was no more

I never knitted again

when I was a teen my Mama taught me to crochet
only one stitch on the hook
no wonkiness or stitches to count
I loved it
making blankets, cushions, bags and hats
but clothing always looks a bit too 70's when crocheted

my local wool shop has started a Knit Club
I decided to give knitting another try
two needles, all those stitches, wool in the opposite hand
I feel all fingers and thumbs but I am persevering
with a knit one purl one rib stitch 4ply
not too much wonkiness
so 'NER Jackie F!'
not a scarf but (hopefully) a waistcoat