Noticing beauty

Life is too busy with work at the moment, to take time to notice many things like this beautiful chilli ripening from green to red. 

I'm hoping it's about to settle down a bit, particularly as I go into December. I have a fair bit of time off work coming up, which I feel more than ready for.

I miss my home, my husband and my little cat when I'm at work. I like being in Edinburgh and a few other things about work, but working full time doesn't suit me or my home life.

Hagos commented today that we don't like when anything intrudes into our weekend routines. And it's true. I think it's because the rest of my time is taken up with stuff I have to do, so I like having the weekend to free-wheel. And also my work has many people in it. And overall I don't like people very much. In general. I much prefer the company of animals. Of course, I do like some people but only in short bursts, apart from Hagos :)

I also think I need to stop eating sugar all together. I've been off caffeine for a week, and I'm sorry to say I feel much better (I LOVE caffeine). I don't think sugar is much better for me. I'll have to pick my moment.

Repurposing

This is me unravelling an old pair of beady bed socks. I had intended mending the holes in the soles but I quickly realised the wool was so worn it had to be binned. The socks were very well-used! 

I saved the beads to use on another garment. 

I've taken a break from sock-knitting and am working on finishing the purple and green 'bramble' jumper. I only have the top of the second sleeve to knit and then I'm finished. Then I'd like to work on the chunky jumper as a quick gratification fix.

I watched the documentary on Ian Rankin the other day. Very interesting to see a writer pushing through the doubt and uncertainty. I would've liked to have been privy to his creative decisions, but that would have been very intrusive. http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b01nw51c/imagine..._Winter_2012_Ian_Rankin_and_the_Case_of_the_Disappearing_Detective/

Coffee, pigs, and autumnal wrapping

The day began with coffee and cake at Whitmuir.

When I went to see the hens I discovered the pigs had escaped! It was nice to see them roaming around.

They were too quick for me to get a good photo of them. Especially when food was enticing them back to their pen.

As well as making presents I also really love wrapping them. Autumn is a good time of year to be wrapping presents.

This is a traditional thing for me when I get Lynsey's presents. I get her six presents then put them in the order to be opened with the letters of her name. I hope she likes them.