The Rain in Spain Pt 1*

(Warning: Photo heavy post)
We just spent one glorious week in Spain, firstly in Granada, then in a town called Zuheros in the Subbetica, then in Madrid. It was hot. Very very very hot. But you could still do things between dawn and midday, and then a little few things from about 9pm to bed time. But the afternoon is for sleeping, my friends. Anyway, Pt 1 is Granada.
Granada is fantastic. Wicked. Ace. All those things. Also, they have the Alhambra, which is unbelievable. I loved Granada & I loved the Alhambra. Go see them.

It is over-the-top embellishment that doesn't feel crazy. The Vatican feels crazy. Parts of the Louvre feel crazy. They have that awful, gauche, excess about them. The Alhambra is extraordinary, tranquil, calming, awe inspiring. You really need the opportunity to just sit quietly in some of the spaces, especially the Nasrid Palaces, but it is hot, there's lots to see & there are lots and lots of people.

The tiling is spectacular, but somehow difficult to photograph. Mine are mostly not quite in focus - I guess as they are inside the lighting is tough and they are so intricate. I want to make Alhambra-inspired quilts thanks to the tiles & the colours!

Granada itself is quite lovely, although be prepared for hills. The people are nice and the food is good.

If you actually do go to the Alhambra, get there early. We got there about 8am and had a great time. Later, there are too many people, it is too hot & you have to stand in line in the sun.

*PS I don't believe there ever is any. Rain in Spain, that is.

Productivity

Lots of it! Somehow have overcome the lack of knitting mojo, and am now on max power. Behold.

Bibs, courtesy of Chickpea Designs. Not as cute as hers, but towelling backed, so hopefully useful. They look a bit small, but take about 10 minutes to make, so I might make some bigger ones. Just need to get some press-studs for closures. A book bag for my poor deprived nephew, who didn't receive his original birthday present, and has been waiting on slack auntie to make another one. Which I finally have! (Gotta love Olivia!)
Christmas knitting #1: Quickie Cowl, in Colinette Burnt Umber. Not very Burnt Umber in my opinion, more turquoise & pink. I don't really like this colourway, but the cowl itself is very cute. There is a lace pattern in there (somewhere).
Christmas Knitting#2 (still in progress): Branching Out, looking quite nice in Drops Alpaca. No work done on this since the baby stopped my interest in knitting, but dug it out to take pics, and am surprised at how good it looks!
My new favourite piece of knitting, the Baby Surprise Jacket (Ravelry link here), in Gedifra Fashion Colour. Love this pattern - what fun to knit! I promise more pics to follow of the craziness of this pattern. Love the yarn a lot - is less washed out than in this picture, richer browns & blues, with a subtle self-stripe. Very very nice, but definately not newborn size! I am guessing this is going to be a 1yr old size by the time I finish!
I also did a bit of investment in the stash - some lovely yarn on sale (I needed to top up the Gedifra for the BSJ, so a few more balls didn't hurt!) and a few choices pieces from Colinette (luckily, only the Burnt Umber disappointed on colourway not looking like the internet description).
Also, the Elderflower Cordial went wonderfully, and tastes superb! Cheers.

Good English Fun

Now, it wasn't quite Midsummer Day, but we went picking elderflowers at midday anyway (only a few days off, so that will have to do). We went out to a nearby village and walked along a gorgeous bridleway in the howling wind, stopping every now and then to plunder the flowers.

We returned home with a great haul, which is being turned into various drinks as we speak. Also, finished knitting (!!) - this is the First Coat from Debbie Bliss' Essential Baby, knit in gorgeous Blue Sky Alpaca Skinny Dyed Cotton. It used about 2.5 skeins, and I think it looks quite handsome! It looks much better in person than in the picture, and needs a block, but I'm pretty happy with it, all in all.

And gratuitous garden shot - I've been waiting for these little sweeties for ages!

Summer - apparently

I think it happened. Summer, that is. We had three days of lovely, sunny, hot weather (the car said 31! The weather guy said 27) which was delightful. But its gone, as quick as it came - back to 18. Which, to be honest, is easier as everything I own that I can still wear is warmish, the heat makes me tired & I have to remember to water the garden (this happens so infrequently I kind of forget until things appear to be dying).

My lovely friend Ky and her boyfriend came to visit a little while ago, and she bought me a copy of Debbie Bliss' Essential Baby. Which I just happened to have got out of the library and was knitting from, which was great because I could return the book, without having finished my knitting and without paying a late fine! And I can now make the very cute Duffle Coat that is in there too....

I am knitting the first coat, and it is going swimmingly (a small counting error, apparently the result of baby brain - thats my claim anyway), and I bought cute little toggle buttons to go with it. I also bought black pretend leather buttons but they are too big, so toggles it is. Very hard to find those lovely woven leather buttons, especially small ones. Anyway, only two tiny sleeves to go. And then I think I need to buy some new yarn...well, I really don't, there is some in the stash, but I might anyway.

Anyway, I am bravely attaching a pic of me, bump and all. Bravely, as it was taken one evening after a day of work & heat, and I look a bit....ordinary. But at least you get the idea!

I promise...again

Right. Another fresh start...well, at least I am knitting again! I started a few things, but without much enthusiasm. But now I have started baby knitting, and the motivation has returned! And its soooo quick! I am knitting with the lovely BSA Skinny Dyed Cotton that Ali sent me from her contest. Its been a bit of adjustment to get used to the cotton business, but suddenly I have a million plans! A million! Lucky this baby will be born at the start of winter, and will actually need all this wool & knitted loveliness.

Anyway, last weekend we attempted to camp in the Forest of Dean. It is spectacular up there - proper big trees and all. However, it rained. A lot. So we came home a night early, but it was still great. See for yourself:

Oh, the last picture isn't of camping - its my lovely friend Ky, who came to visit with her partner & her friend. And to prove that there is the odd glimmer of sunshine in this here country!

Slacker

Yep, big fat blog slacker. Not only have I lost my knitting mojo, but I seem to have slipped badly in the blogging stakes! Maybe it is related - no knitting, no blog...but this seems silly, so I am at least going to try to blog a bit more. Maybe I just needed a little rest. Anyway, back into things!

We had snow:

And we had sunshine:

And as you can see, my lovely tulips survived admirably! They are new this year, and I really like them - they are a bit of fun. There are black ones about to come out in the next few weeks, to balance it all out with a bit of elegance.

A while ago, I won a blog comp run by the lovely Skeins Her Way, and in my lovely parcel I found (along with the most delicious chocolate ever, yummy tea, a pattern and a cute tape measure) was this fantastic yarn! I can't wait to use it....

I really struggled to get this colour somewhere like true, but trust me, it is a gorgeous deep, touchable red.
And finally - my latest project (yep, its not knitting. There is knitting on my table, but it just isn't being knitted). This is for my newest nephew (well, as good as a nephew). I started out with a knitted baby blanket, which turned into an enormous horrible mess. Enough to turn me off knitting for a bit (!). So I turned to an older hobby, which I knew I could get finished in time. In the picture, it isn't quilted or finished, but it has taken me so long to blog that I have now finished it! So I might have been very quiet, but I haven't been completely unproductive!

Seasonal Perspective

One year, one tree.