My journey to work in the shop, The Woolclip

Thought you might like to see how awful my journey is to work in The Woolclip, in Caldbeck is.

This is the view from just outside my village on a bad day!

The view of Skiddaw from Embleton.

For the last 3 weeks I've been lucky enough to meet the Hunt, can you see the Master with Hounds? Fantastic.

Labour eat your words...........

New display in the Woolclip.

And on the way home, across Caldbeck Common, looking towards the Solway

That's Criffel in the distance.

I'm falling to pieces!

Well, I've been at the dentist this week to plan future treatment; I need 1 filling, 1 root canal & 5 crowns, how did that happen? I hardly eat any sweets, I blame it on 60's/70's dentists that were paid for every filling they did, I had so many fillings as a child but never had any toothache, so now my teeth are literally falling to pieces!

If that wasn't enough, was at the optician's this afternoon as I noticed over the last few weeks I can't thread a needle anymore & yes my eyesight's going & I need glasses for close work.

If I was an animal you'd put me down!

Anyway good news re. our bridge in the village, it's getting there, hopefully by the end of the month the 2 sides of the village will be connected again, no more wading through the river or driving 40 minutes extra.

Sparkly Wool...

The wool has metallic thread through it, so it sparkles.

Also, made some wrist warmers in the sparkly wool too - think I'm in a Christmas mood with all this cold weather!

Wool Week

It's been Wool Week this week, highlighting the wool industry, supported by Prince Charles & The Campaign for Wool. In The Woolclip we've been running demonstrations all week & I did knitting this Wednesday.

I'm teaching long-tail cast on - we got there in the end!

I use long-tail cast on all the time for lace knitting as it's elastic, so when you're blocking it's stretchy & is less likely to break. It's also really great for the tops of socks & any ribbing, try it & see!

I'm Back!!

Well, been a while since I blogged as we've been on holiday, in Spain. Best weather we've had in years, missed the Gotta Fria by days. This is a tremendous storm that they have in October every year in the Valencia region. The rain goes on solidly for about a week, rivers burst their banks, people are swept away & roads are washed out. Last year it came in September, when we were there & it washed away part of the mountain & motorway to Alicante. But, after the storm's passed, that's it for the year & normal service is resumed, warm, sunny weather. The Spanish don't know how lucky they are.

Typical view of what I've been looking at for a month! 30 degrees + each day too.

Spent the month eating either fish, shellfish or salads - so nice - so stodgy food, soon changes once you're back in the UK though - need the carbs to keep warm!

My favourite meal of the holiday was a skewer with monkfish & prawns, wonderful. It was in this restaurant above, Republic, which overlooks the marina. Husband, son & friends, Ocho Platos & Boozio are pictured!

I won a Cup at The Loweswater Show!

Well, am very surprised & delighted that I won a cup for the "best exhibit in knitting". I also won 3 firsts & 2 seconds! All for my knitting, sewing & drink-making capabilities, nothing at all for baking & jam/jelly/chutney - that really does sum me up! Would far rather be making things than cooking!

This is the shawl that won first in the double knitting category & "Best Exhibit in Knitting".

Then I won first in the 3/4 ply category with another shawl, unfortunately the socks I knitted for my husband didn't win anything - he's now allowed to wear them!

And in the knitted scarf category I won first prize for my curly-wurly scarf, which I designed myself, so am very chuffed about that!

These were all the entries in just the knitting & sewing categories! This was my cushion that came second, in the "home made cushion" category & then finally my elderflower cordial came second in the "summer drink in a jug" category.

I'm not even going to bother putting pictures of my jam/jelly/chutneys as they've been deemed "ungraded"! Must try better for next year, shame about my cheese scones, as I thought they turned out were rather nice

There the ones on the far left - look nice don't they? Think maybe they weren't big enough....

Anyway, it was a sunny, warm if windy day & thankfully the Show went ahead after being cancelled for the last 2 years because of wet weather. Looking forward to 2011!

Could do without the Morris Dancers though..........

Happy Birthday to me, Happy Birthday to me!!

Well, I've had a lovely & unexpected day with lots of friends dropping by with pretty cards, pressies & flowers.


Ooh, what could it be....
from a favourite shop in Penrith...
a lovely bracelet.



It's so thoughtful, I was there on Monday with friends & rather coveted this & wished afterwards I'd bought it, so it was a really nice surprise to be given it by the friends I was with, so very lovely. You know you should have bought something when later you're thinking about going back to get it.


Then I got some flowers and tonight my husband's going to cook me 1 of my favorite meals, Scallops & Chorizo by Nigella,