Saturday morning

My early morning view from the kitchen table :)

And then a trip down to Morningside/Bruntsfield, ostensibly to do some banking, but really so I could go to the new Costa on the corner and have a skinny mocha and read The Review. Costa loves me.

I like this area of Edinburgh a lot. There are a couple of coffee shops I like. Also The Edinburgh Bookshop, which has a well-chosen display of books, and a good card/gift shop, where I went to buy three wedding cards.

And then I got a text from my sister to say she'd been in a car accident last night. She, her husband and their little dog (poor Spike) are all okay but the car is a write off. So that was a shock.

Today I am in that no mans land of feeling tired but not tired enough to sleep but too tired to do anything productive. I lay down with Meg for an hour and that was nice and have woken up feeling a bit fresher. I really wanted to sew this weekend but moving the kitchen table away from the wall and setting up my sewing machine and figuring out where I am in the pattern seems like a lot of hassle. Maybe I'll go outside first to see if fresh air helps. A cycle ride even! I'm off! 

A hat and two pairs of socks

This is my manager's manager's hat. I think I'll have to get more wool and make myself a new one. I want to wear this so much. It's a Rowan recipe using Rowan Big Wool. I gave Tracey the option of pom poms, tassels or nothing at the end of the ties and she opted for tassels.

These are Bramble's socks, finally finished. I particularly love the pink socks because they're so soft (alpaca).

But I think these are quite groovy too.

My Birthday and, what else - the hens!

For my birthday I asked Hagos to get me drawing materials. I used to love drawing when I was at school, particularly drawing people. We went to Greyfriars Art shop in Dundas Street, Edinburgh. The woman was so helpful and I came away with some pastels, above.

And some pencils. I won't show you my efforts so far. I need to set up my 'art' space so that it's all much more accessible. This includes my piano, which I haven't played since my Christmas holidays.

These are my birthday books. I had to give away so many of my books when I moved to Scotland, I'm glad to be building them back up again. Kate Atkinson, Life After Life, is so readable, though the characters are recognisable from Case Histories and Behind the Scenes at the Museum. She's very good at that close, dysfunctional, funny family dynamics. Hoping for some slivers of writing wisdom from A L Kennedy. And some great new chocolate recipes from Green and Black's recipe book.

After my sad hen news in the last post, I thought I'd get in amongst the girls today and post some happy photos. This is little Rosie. She's the smallest hen, always on the periphery, especially when any food is being given out. I always scoop a little bit out and try to feed her off to the side, though even then she isn't always brave enough to come and take it. I particularly like seeing her running towards me because she has such short legs and such a pointy tail she looks really funny.

This is Malcolm. I'm a wee bit concerned about Malcolm as she seems to be spending a bit of time by herself these days. She's probably fine. I like them all to be together: safety in numbers, they won't be lonely (projecting human traits on them). I love Malcolm too as she's also a wee sweetheart. She used to be at the bottom of the pecking order but I've seen her stand up for herself a few times and hold her own. 

Godfrey, Vivian and Yoko. 

Chikarita, with her feathery feet. Her feathers have a lovely green sheen to them. 

Apple crumble for one. It seemed like a good idea at the time. Now I just feel very, very full.

In knitting news: I made my manager's manager a hat. We bumped into each other in the queue at Cafe Nero on the way into work one morning and she asked if I'd knit one for her. I was a bit surprised as I thought I was the only person in the world who liked my hat (I love this hat and knit the same pattern every time I need a new hat). It's knitted in Rowan Big Wool, which is so soft and chunky, and it's so warm because it covers my whole head and has ear flaps. It's probably the only thing I'd agree to knit for anyone too as it is such a quick, fun knit. So I've finished that and will post a photo next time. I've also almost finished two pairs of baby socks for Bramble. I just have the toe to knit on the second sock. It shouldn't have taken me so long, but I have been so busy with work, and home life. Photos of all in the next post! 

A Sad Weekend

I've had a truly horrible weekend.

I left work on friday night excited at the prospect of having a weekend to myself, and was planning to spend the whole weekend sewing, knitting, reading, walking, sleeping, and generally chilling out.

On friday evening I went a walk to see the hens and collect the eggs. Bow (above) wasn't with the group, which I thought unusual as she's always around when food's being given out.  A short distance away I found a clump of feathers. It took a moment to understand she had been taken by a fox. Bow was one of my favourites and actually my current most favourite. I loved the smoky-grey feathers that reminded me of those wide dancing skirts that ballroom dancers wear.

Then on Saturday my mother-in-law called to say her cat had died. He was 17 years old and had been her friend and constant companion all that time. I went through to see her today, and we had a nice day considering the circumstances. But I feel so sad about it and can't stop crying. I feel sad for him, and I feel sad for my mother-in-law.

So I'm sitting on the couch cuddling a hot water bottle (heat is comforting), watching The Great British Bake Off re-runs, and Paul Hollywood's Bread, knitting a very simple jumper with my own wee cat lying across my legs. And I can hear an owl hooting outside.

The most beautiful, and long-awaited egg in the world

For months speculation has been rife as to when, exactly, Turkey would lay an egg. Whenever it is mentioned, our neighbours' kids always follow it up by saying turkey eggs make the best cakes. So the legend, along with the expectation, has been growing.

And yesterday, thanks to the eggspert skill of Detective Inspector McC, Turkey was observed laying her egg under a bush, and it was duly retrieved.

Isn't it beautiful?

As beautiful as Turkey herself. 
   

Knitting list of unfinished items

My knitting list of unfinished items is very long! So I decided to write a list of them today (and also sewing projects) and work my way through them methodically. One by one.

First on the list to be completed is Bramble's socks. The socks are for age 3-6 months, and if I don't get a move on she'll be celebrating her 18th birthday before I know it.

The pink alpaca wool is so soft and just lovely to work with. I'm hoping to get all socks finished by the end of March.

I was going great guns on the first pair of Bramble socks until I ran out of the yellow tweed! I only have three small rows to do. Luckily John Lewis has an endless supply of wool so I bought some more.

This is the list. Some items like the white jumper and green and purple jumper just need to be sewn together and they'll be finished. They're all knitted-up. Likewise the yellow slippers (they'll be good for summer). But the Ribbon Twist jumper hasn't even been started. I'm halfway up the front of the blue jumper, and I've knitted one reindeer sock. I'm so easily seduced by wool and new projects, which is why I have so many at varying degrees of completion.

And talking of wool seduction - I forbade myself from buying any more wool until I've finished every item on the list, however I couldn't resist this gorgeous pink tweed when I was buying the yellow. 

And as summer approaches my mind has started thinking I'd like to make some new skirts. So, the list - finish one item at a time.

A difficult week, and some easy knitting

Meg had an operation to remove a lump from her left front leg on Monday. It all went as well as could be expected and thankfully the lump was benign when tested again. However, because she's been restricted to staying in the house, and has a collar on to stop her licking her stitches, it's meant either Hagos or I have had to watch her all the time. She's such a wilful creature she has figured out how to wedge the collar further up her left leg, enabling her to lick and pull at the very end of the wound and stitches. So, I have been working full time then going to bed with Meg for 3-4 hours at bedtime, then following her downstairs and sleeping on the couch for the rest of the night, and then getting up for work again. Thankfully Hagos has been at home during the day and has been able to watch her, though he hasn't been able to get much work done at all. We are both relieved when she is sleeping!

So last night I sat with her on my lap (well, I put my feet on the table and she lies somewhere along my legs) and though I have complicated knitting I should be getting on with, I decided I could only cope with very easy knitting - plain and purl with the occasional increase. 

I'm knitting the jumper/vest again (originally knitted in purple Jaeger 4-ply; and more recently in off-white alpaca) from Vintage Knits by Sarah Dallas. This lovely deep blue is also alpaca. It's lovely and soft and I feel I'm achieving something when all I can do is cuddle a cat.

(Meg has her stitches removed next Saturday and should be able to go outside again then too.)

Birthday x 2

For some reason this is the only photo I took over the last couple of days, though it was my dad's 80th birthday on Wednesday and Hagos's birthday the following day. 

We drove to Dumfries to celebrate my dad's birthday and had a lovely afternoon. My nephews and their girlfriends turned up, along with my sister and both my parents were there, of course. My dad is Mr Understated, so there was no fanfare, or balloons or any extended rowdiness or sparkle. Just a birthday cake and presents and an afternoon spent chatting. 

Yesterday we tried to pack too much into Hagos's birthday. He had found a nice pub online in Edinburgh and we met up there with a few of his touring chums and played half a game of Monopoly. Then we drove to Morningside to try out the new Pizza Express with our friends and Godson, JJ. The owl above is JJ's 'card' that he made for Hagos's birthday. I love kid art. 

We got back late-ish and watched a couple of episodes of Boardwalk Empire and then went to bed.

Patterns in the snow

These are the patterns that greeted me when I went out this morning to let the hens out and feed them. I love their tracks in the snow.

I had such a lovely day: coffee with my friend first thing this morning; then a shiatsu at The Shiatsu Place in Morningside; then a wander down to Bruntsfield, stopping for another coffee at The Chocolate Tree and a look in at the book shop too. 

And this afternoon: knitting, reading, spending time with the hens and the pigs and a bit of a walk. So nice.

Knitting for Bramble

I started knitting these socks yesterday for our friends' baby Bramble. I love choosing colours for projects because the colours have to be just right for the person, and these colours remind me of the colours of the hills around where we all live in Edinburgh. I also love knitting socks. I have a thing about home-made socks. There is nothing like wearing a pair of home-knitted socks for comfort and love and wholesomeness! And home-knitted socks mean you can have a stripy leg and block-colour foot. Silly, simple things please me.

I also have a lovely dusty pink that I'd like to make another pair with too. For being a girl. And then there's the green alpaca - it's beautiful too. More colour combinations to come, I think.

En Vacances

 

I'm on holiday for a week! A whole nine days where I don't have to go to work. I'm looking forward to reading and walking and knitting and sewing and forgetting about work.

This morning Hagos and I went to Whitmuir Organic Farm, as usual, for coffee and cake. I like to take The Review or Country Living magazine with me, but didn't have those today and didn't want to stop off to buy them, so I took Delight by JB Priestley instead, and a knitting book. Hagos took a William Burroughs book. My chocolate cup cake was superb.

The egg to the left is a mega-egg we got from our hens yesterday. I assume it was from Arrow as she has laid similar in the past. We're planning to have it for lunch today. 

One of our hens, Emma, has gone missing. She's been gone for a week and a half now. I've walked around the area at least four times looking under every bush, into every tree and there's no sign of her anywhere. She looked a bit unwell when I let her out on the day she went missing, but she's looked like that before and been fine. All of the hens have their own personality (well, except for Shelley and Maisie, the two whites who seem devoid of character) and I had a soft spot for Emma, though actually I have a soft spot for all of them. The rest of the hens seem fine and are full of vim and vigour as usual. 

The Larder

I met my friend Lynsey for lunch today in The Larder, just off The Royal Mile in Edinburgh. I should have taken photos (perhaps I'll go back tomorrow) but it was so nice to meet, just the two of us, in a lovely environment that sold tea and CAKE! my mind was otherwise engaged.

Lynsey had actual lunch; and I had a cream tea, with clotted cream!

I've been searching for a favourite cafe in Edinburgh since I moved here and I think this could be it. It fits my criteria: aesthetically pleasing, good tea/coffee, good simple food, and tucked out of the way so that it's not over-crowded. Photos soon.

February update

I got some postcards printed up by Moo. I've had this done before, and really love the results. Stationery, you know :)

I like the snowy, downward-looking pics, but also, of course, love the animal prints. There are lots more I could/will get done.

But this is my selection for now. 

I have been off work for the past three days with a bug. Thursday and Friday last week were so full on - I felt my immune system breaking under the strain, and then on Sunday morning I woke up with that full body ache. At midday today I felt perky for the first time since it arrived, so I expect I'll go back to work tomorrow. 

I am still reading Great Expectations, very slowly. And I started reading Stephen King, On Writing, which I'm zipping through. It's always heartening to read a rags-to-riches story.

On Saturday Hagos and I bought our seed potatoes from the garden centre. This year we've gone for Casablanca and Pentland Javelin,

Wiljas, Maris Pipers and Blue Danube. We've had them all before except the Blue Danubes. 

And I have finished one Scottish reindeer sock. It's beautiful, although I carried the white wool round the back and it's made the tension in that area a bit tight and so I have to persevere to actually get it over my heel! For the 2nd sock I thought I'd try the intarsia method.

Well, that's me used all my energy again so I might have a lie down. 

The last of the snow

Hagos bought a snowboard online, and there was just enough snow left to give it a go.

I wasn't at all successful, but Hagos managed a bit of a run. It took a lot of effort though.

I gave up fairly quickly and returned to the more immediately rewarding sledging! 

A lovely photo

I came across this photo tonight while looking for another, and really liked it. I like the composition and the colours. I think the hens are quite young here - the whiteness of Shelley gives it away!

Sledging! And other snowy things.

Hagos is off recording today, so I decided to go sledging by myself. Isn't this the most amazing view from the top of the hill? With the Pentland Hills straight ahead. I laugh all the way from the top till long after I've reached the bottom.

I had no steering skills, so when I tried to follow my previous route down on the second run to avoid getting covered in snow, it didn't work.  I managed four runs all together. I could've played there all day, except for having to climb back up the hill each time.

Usually when I open the hen house door the hens all come running out in a hurry, but today they all stood in the doorway looking at the snow. Finally Arrow was brave enough to fly out, and land in the water. I do feel sorry for them though. They stand on one leg and tuck the other into their feathery belly to keep it warm, and then change feet. And they were shivering too. 

If you look closely under the table, beside the feeding bowl, you will see a sweet little robin. I counted three robins flying in and around the hen run today when I let the hens out. I think I've said before that as well as feeding the hens, we also get robins, pheasants, blackbirds and squirrels eating the layer pellets. They are so beautiful, and it's lovely to see a splash of such vivid red on a winter's day (the camera didn't pick it up though). 

Bow taking tentative steps in the snow.

And three of the seven eggs we got today. I love these top-down perspective shots. I might print out a series of them and hang them on my walls.

What a lovely day!

Delight - Departing Guests

I had a great weekend. On Saturday my sister and her husband drove up to Edinburgh and we met them at Whitmuir Organic Cafe and had coffee and cake, then came home to have lunch and a country walk. Then on Sunday our friends came over and we had lunch, then a snowball fight, then some sledging (which I LOVED), then other friends came over and we had a bonfire.

I had the foresight to take today off work, as, much as I love seeing people and doing stuff, I know myself well enough to know I need time to myself. My 'two hour rule' was vastly overstretched this weekend so today is all about engaging with nobody outside of my little family unit: my husband and my cat and my hens :)

It brings to mind one of the sections in JB Priestley's 'Delight' book, where he describes one of the things in life that brings him delight as 'Departing Guests'. I know exactly what he means. I appreciate spending time with the people I like, and I love coming back to myself and my own thoughts and interests. 

Knitting mania

These three jumpers are all finished. I just have to sew them together and knit the neck. But instead of doing that (because sewing up is my least favourite part of the knitting process) I decided to start knitting a new pair of socks instead.

I got the blue wool from the John Lewis sale - half price! Four balls. It's Rowan Cashsoft 4 ply. Lovely, soft wool. I've had the reindeer motif for years, meaning to knit it into a pair of socks, and this is me just getting round to it. The blue and white colours are for the Scottish flag.

Hagos and I have been watching Dexter recently - the American series about a serial killer, but he only kills bad guys so that's okay. The main character is played by the actor who played the younger brother in Six Feet Under. It took me 8 episodes to get into it, now I love it.