JUST A FEW THINGS TO FINISH!

I've decided that before I start anything else I need to get some things finished first. 

Christmas stockings for Charlotte Jessica and Jack which I had made up my mind to buy ready made but then saw this fabric and changed my mind. 

They are all cut out so I'm hoping to spend this coming Saturday sewing them together.

The chevron blanket that I'm making for Kate is just four rows and one yellow colour block away from completion. I really love it and could easily persuade myself to make another just for me.
But before I am persuaded I need to finish off some christmas presents and get yarn ordered to make baby goodies again this time for Kate who is expecting in March.
I have a bag full of sock yarn which is making my fingers itch to make up but I am having to be strong willed and I'm leaving it to one side or to be more correct, hidden behind the sofa, until I have a little more time.
Last Thursday I had the urge to declutter the lounge, the bags of yarn arranged on the chair all of a sudden were an eye sore. So without further ado, I hoovered the lounge in all of it's nooks and crannies, pushed the sofa forward a tad and stacked my bags of yarn behind it. It looks much tidier, husband is impressed and the yarn isn't far away!

I am giving you just a hint of what I'm making with some very bright orange wool. These are christmas presents and all will be revealed fully when they're finished.

And finally here to be finished is Jack's car seat blanket, also a christmas present. I have made this quite a bit longer than the pattern suggests and now I only have to add the border to it.
(Thankfully, Kate's blanket doesn't have a border!).

Quite a lot to be going on with but I'm getting there!

LEST WE FORGET

Sad faces, brave boys,

marching around muddy grounds.

Mad birds singing more like shouting.

Smile to sadness, people got sadder, frightened and worried.

We shall never forget them.

By Charlotte

On seeing the wonderful display created by these young people,

I don't think they will!

SURPRISES ALL ROUND!

On Friday, our bag packed in the car, we set off to drive up to Scotland. Unfortunately we left a lot later than planned so we joined heavy traffic up the A1 but thankfully my crochet was in reach and I managed to start and nearly finish a hat for Jack for christmas. Unfortunately, (again!) I had made a gigantic mistake, I think probably after I'd dropped the crochet hook. It had slid down the side of my seat, laying at finger tip reach. After plenty of guts and determination to retrieve it and fading light, I crocheted on only to find far more stitches than I started with and in the end I ended up undoing it all when I got to our hotel.

We were up in Scotland to attend a surprise 60th birthday for a friend of ours, my family and hers had been the best of friends for nearly 50 years. She didn't guess a thing about the party so was so surprised and then a short time after doubly surprised to see me sitting there too.

It was a really lovely evening and so nice to catch up, laugh and reminisce about old times.

While we were away we drove over to the coast, here at Largs we watched a ferry head off on its journey to one of the islands. I wondered if the people waiting to board were returning home or perhaps they were visiting, working even. Who knows, I'm just always intrigued by ferries and their travellers.

Moving down the coast we stopped at Ayr for a brisk walk. Michael wandered along the beach picking up small pieces of driftwood to go with our collection we have at home. I'm hoping we'll now have enough to make a table lamp base for our lounge. I remain ever hopeful that this little project will be completed over the winter.

Our few days in Scotland were over so quickly but we did have a wonderful time. On the way home, I remade the hat and since being back I have nearly finished another and made a dishcloth. I'll post some pictures in my next post.