2. Discovering a new 30 minute recipe for soda bread. This recipe from Nigel Slater makes a really quick, tasty loaf. Mr JK and I had some for lunch today with a bowl of Zurek, a Polish soup.
3. Ravelry friendships. I love Ravelry! I've made some great 'virtual' friends, both in the UK and around the world. I've just packaged up some goodies for Cathy, as we're doing another swap of yarn and fibre. She's recently come back from a weekend at Vogue Knitting Live in New York, and has bought my swap goodies there, so I'm really excited to see what she chose for me!
4. Some new yarn arriving in the post. (And no, before you ask, I haven't broken my yarn diet!) I received two skeins of a truly delicious mix of 70% mink and 30% cashmere from Craig at Great Northern Yarns, in the shade Deep Forest Green. Anne Hanson very kindly arranged to have them sent to me as I am going to be test knitting a pattern for her. I'm still waiting for the pattern to arrive, but can say without hesitation that it is probably the softest yarn that I have ever fondled!
and the pussy willow is all soft and furry! I can't wait for some longer, warmer days again.
6. Booking flights to the island of Kos in Greece for October half term. One of my most favourite places to look forward to. I'll be hoping for a week that looks a little like this!
7. Spinning some yarn that I think I can actually knit with! I used fibre from EasyKnits that I bought at KnitNation last summer, and managed to get around 120 metres of yarn! The colourway has a great name - Boogie-Woogie Berry Blast! I split the fibre into half, and then spun each half onto a separate bobbin.
I'm still overspinning it (although you can't really see that in this photo) because if I let the yarn relax, it corkscrews back on itself in places, but each time I spin, I can see some progress! Here's how it looked when it was plied together.
17 comments:
Hey Helen, seems you had a happy week! I am glad Henrycat is better, the picture is awesome! Very kind of him to pose for us. It's also great to see the first signs of spring. I am knitting a lot of things for spring right now. No more mittens and hats! Can't wait to see what you are going to test knit. Your spinning looks good! You will see you get better every time. I have just managed to spin singles that do not curl like crazy little worms. :-)
Have a wonderful week!
Julia
I'm glad Henrycat is feeling better, he's such a handsome fellow.
I love Nigel Slater's recipes, I have two of his quick meals books and they are fantastic, such easy recipes without lots of faffy steps or excessively expensive ingredients.
Your spinning is looking great, I am steadfastly resisting the urge to have a go at spinning, I don't need any more yarn in my house or fibre either!
Hope you have a great week.
Laura
So glad to hear Henrycat has found his purr again ....
What's making me happy right now?
The nights are getting lighter giving me some hope
My lovely girl was home for the weekend ...
we've all been to see my Dad today on his 78th birthday.
and.... it's only two weeks till half term!!!
Have a great week!
xxx
Good evening! So glad Henry is feeling a bit better. That recipe looks great. Think I'll have to give that one a go. Thanks for the link. Your spinning is coming along well. I love the pretty colours. I must say that green yarn looks scrummy!
Only three weeks to half-term :-) :-)
XXXRos
I'm so glad HenryCat is on the mend. He's sure a hansome cat! Please give him a tickle from me.
A perfect post for Sunday evening here Helen. Cute cat, lots of goodies and plenty to look forward too. Are you counting the hours left until half term too? :)
Lots of lovely happy stuff there but best of all a little purr from HC. It is worrying when they stop purring, I hope he continues to improve, worth all the yarn in the world for that.
Sorry to hear your cat is not the best. I hope with medication he can have a few more happy years. You certainly seem to have lots of happy things in your life. It's nice to take notice and appreciate them now and again.
Cheers
Helen
wow! what a week you've had! a little purr, some scrumptious new yarn and a trip booked to paradise? you certainly can't beat that! enjoy every second!
-cmv
that sounds like a very nice week indeed. I'm happy that I finally posting all my 2010 FOs. :) And I'm happy that when I wake up in the morning, my kitty comes and climbs up on my chest and purrs though sometimes it makes it hard to actually get up and, oh, go to work!
Good news about Henry cat. Just seeing all your lovely woolly images has made me feel happy this cold frosty morning.
Because of problems with someone who reads my blog I've had to change my url address
http://two-pairs-of-socks-and-an-apron.blogspot.com
If you click on florrie at the top of this message it shoul take you there.
florrie x
florrie x
Oh, I'm glad Henrycat is feeling better - may his purr continue to grow :)
The mink and cashmere yarn looks gorgeous!
And spinning - if your singles are overspun, just overply them a bit to take the twist back out again. But the singles should twist back on themselves if you let them go to a certain extent, it's when you get corkscrews on the bobbin that you can't straighten out that you should start to worry. You're definitely getting there though, your yarn looks lovely!
Aaaargh! so sorry to hear Henrycat is poorly....such a lovely boy and a wonderful photo of him
Hugs xx
When I clicked on the link to your blog, the tips of Henry's ears were the first things to appear, and then it slowly opened up to reveal the whole of Henrycat! Isn't he gorgeous! Your knitting is wonderful too, and your spinning, really interesting, and fab colours. Love Vanessa xxx
Only just seen that Henrycat is poorly. to you both.
If it helps, Mewsley is 19 and has the same problem, diagnosed two years ago and she is thriving on the right medication.
Mewsley sends Henrycat a special nose nuzzle.
Mink and cashmere!!! Wow that has to be so soft. Can't wait to see what your test knit is.
Your spinning looks great from here ☺
well your post is making me happy!
so many lovely things - i'm glad to hear mr. henrycat is feeling better, how kind of him to pose for some photos.
your lunch looked delicious - i may have to try that bread recipe. yum!
and tulips?!? how wonderful! i hope we'll get to see more pictures as they continue to grow.
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