Miss Marple Knits

I spent a lot of time on holiday knitting whilst lying on a lounger on the beach.

But I couldn't help feeling that to others I must have looked something like this!

Unreal

Oh it is difficult returning to real life after a holiday. 

Its especially difficult to return to a grey, damp UK after days in the sun. 

How I miss not having to think about meal planning, cooking and clearing up after. 

How I miss having the bathroom cleaned twice a day, the bed turned down in the evening and my belongings neatly arranged for me.  

Sadly, reality has well and truly kicked-in.  
 

Phoebe - Rowan Kids

 

 

This is sweet little cardie is Phoebe from Rowan Kids.  I took these photos of my little girl modeling it on the beach during our holiday in Mauritius.  She was very tolerant as it was much too hot to be wearing anything more than a cossie!

It's made using Rowan Calmer, a cotton and polyester mix.  It seems a little small so I am hoping it has some stretch to it and will still be wearable next summer (cardies definitely needed during an English summer!). 

The pink buttons come from my stash which is a random collection of old buttons taken off clothing, those spares that come attached in packets on bought clothing and various thrifted finds. 

My Ravelry notes are here.

Christmas Reading

We have just a little collection of Christmas books and can thoroughly recommend each one.  There's  Grumpy Badger and Slinky Malinki for the party, presents and tinsel side of things.

 

Then to try to teach the real reason for Christmas, we've the simple Usborne's Christmas Story and the nativity as experienced by little Rebecca and her donkey. 

Advent

Despite being inspired by various advent calendar ideas floating around in blogland, I've ended up getting the usual shop-bought, chocolate-a-day version.  Maybe next year...... but I suspect it will still have to include chocolate!

Walls

 

 

When you are four years old, all walls should be walked on - even awkward ones!

Mushrooming

We've been mushroom spotting this month.  They're everywhere!

He's making a list, checking it twice

Father Christmas visited our high street yesterday to switch on the lights and hand out presents to the children.  Still a month to go but excitement levels in our house are already rising!

Rememberance Sunday

Lest we forget.

Kevin

I had great plans at the beginning of the year to make time for lots of cinema trips.  I've just managed to go for the fourth time this year so that plan didn't work, did it?! 

Having read the book first, watching We Need To Talk About Kevin certainly added to my interpretation of the story.  It was puzzling and tense and Tilda Swinton was as mesmerizing as ever.  I did find the red imagery throughout the film was rather over done though, especially as the massacre by bow and arrow in the finale would have been far less bloody than a shooting.  

Perhaps another cinema trip might be possible before the end of the year........!

Wisley Autumn Rainbow

 

 

 

 

 

 

Richard Of York Gave Battle In Vain.  All the colours of the rainbow at Wisley.

Autumn Picnic

 

An Autumn picnic - plus mushrooms!

Kos We Like It

 

 

 

 

 

 A sunny, action-packed holiday, to make up for the last one!

Mary and Bill

When these two lovely books arrived in the post I could not wait to tuck in! 

First, I made Duck Soup from Bill's Everyday Asian.  The photography and styling in this book is just exquisite.  Sadly, my duck soup 'snap' shows my presentation is not in the same league (perhaps I need to place the food with tweezers or something?!) but it did taste pretty good!  My duck was still extremely bloody after the stated cooking and resting time so I heated it up for about another three minutes. 

From The Great British Bake Off I tried the oat and raisin biscuits, although I used sultanas as that's what I had in the cupboard.  These are DELICIOUS! Extremely quick and easy to make and extremely moreish. Just right for an after-school snack.

Dahlias

After a visit to the dahlia beds at Wisley, I now know that the collerette style is pretty...

 Ken's Rarity

The waterlily style is charming ....

 Parkland Rave

The semi-cactus is glorious too but ...

 Blyton Royal Velvet

 Pembroke Levenna

 Wigo Super

the pompom is just perfect!