observing :: kite surfing

Strong wind, choppy seas - perfect for kite surfing. Not so perfect for shooting straight into the sun.

I have to make an unexpected trip up country - back soon. And I will get on top of my comments very soon. I do so appreciate you dropping by and saying hello. Thank you!

Happy weekending, whatever you're doing.

knit knit knit

I've joined a local knitting group, and my first meeting was on monday. Plenty of serious knitting, tea, chatting, and advice and guidance on knitting socks. Bliss! I am the youngest member by..oh, getting on for twenty years I should think, so that translates as lots of experience to tap in to. It's my mission this year to knit socks. Well, that's the plan. So lots of useful tips and how-tos have been filed in my memory.

There's something very relaxing and restorative about knitting - the gentle rhythm, the repetition, my lovely Brittany needles. And as for the yarn.... I think I'd be quite happy piling it into a beautiful bowl and just gazing at it, and stroking it.


This is wool classica by manos del uruguay, which I combined with two strands of kidsilk haze in pearl and cream, to knit my version of the purl scarf from this book. It didn't work for me on 10mm needles, so I downsized to 7mm, and knit a long skinny scarf in k1p1 rib for my beautiful niece as a christmas present. And I've no photographs of the finished scarf either. In fact, I failed to photograph everything I knitted for presents.

I'm wading through paperwork and accounts at the moment, and a few rows of knitting before bed restores the equilibrium beautifully.

Wet dog days

The glorious cold frosty weather has abandoned us, leaving grey damp drizzle in its wake. The mornings are dark and gloomy and I'm finding it hard to get going on the days I work from home. First thing I have little focus for the tasks in hand and am easily distracted. You know how it is...you check your email, then an hour has drifted by while you've caught up on a few blogs here and there. And then the heating broke down, so I had to shift my computer to the only room with heat. And I quite like it here...close to the kitchen for hot drinks and nibbles, a frequent occurrence I have to admit. I call it brain food. Well, that's my excuse!

But Walter's not fazed by the weather....he's just as likely to go in the sea for a dip when it's freezing cold, as he is in warm summer sunshine.


So it's wet dog days here, topped off by rolling in fresh fox poo.

Don't you just love him?

Observing :: the shape of trees

I love trees in winter
Reduced to a skeleton
Bare
Silhouetted against the horizon
Bent and shaped by the wind



Thank you for all the lovely comments you've left me on this little series of observations. I'm going to carry on for a bit. I'm feeling rather quiet, so it's good to let the photos do the talking.

Observing :: today

:: reflections



:: bud


:: moon

Observing :: bare branches

Observing :: the daffodils are coming

Observing :: sunshine/shadow

Observing :: hop, skip and jump

Observing :: corn stubble

Observing :: bark

Observing :: the moor

Scattered through January I'm going to post some photos of whatever catches my eye as I go about my day. Join in if you like!

Yesterday I walked up on the moor, the first time in months. Crisp winter sunshine and low afternoon light.





This landscape never fails to take my breath away, whatever the weather.

Turning

Turning...a new year, new opportunities, hope...

I love New Year - the sense of renewal, a blank canvas, a clean slate. Call it what you will, but for me letting go of the old and welcoming in the new brings a sense of hope, excitement and wonder. There's no big plan or resolutions, just gentle intentions for the coming months.

And I can't wait to get going again.

I've had a wonderful christmas with my family - I've driven nearly a thousand miles, been spoiled with beautiful presents (including some lovely wool and books), have eaten more than I needed (not just me, surely?), and am now home again....to peaceful beautiful Cornwall. And a freezing cold easterly wind which makes me want to cozy up inside.

I was granted my wish for frosty mornings and winter sunshine, day after day. The joy of wonderful walks with the added bonus of clean dogs at the end.



So a happy New Year to you - may it be all you could wish for and more.