Dorset Blanket Ta-Dah!

Greetings! I hope everyone has weathered the recent storm okay. It was very wet and windy around here but, fortunately, no damage. I finally finished E's Dorset Blankie this weekend. It has taken me ages - I started it on our post-AS exam trip to Dorset in June, rippling a row on every beach we visited and dragging it along in the car to do a bit on every uni open day (R was driving!). I had a bit of a lull over the summer when it was too hot to work on it, but happily picked it up again in the autumn. The plan is that she will (hopefully!) take it with her to uni next year, just in case her room is a bit nippy. I also think that a bit of homemade loveliness can sometimes add some much needed character. 

Anyway, here are the obligatory photos:

Ta-Dah! The 'me standing on the coffee table shot':

The 'draped on the sofa' shot:

Along the ripples:

Folded on the arm of the sofa:

...... and finally, with its blankety buddies:

The pattern is, as always, thanks to the lovely Lucy at attic24 and the yarn was a pack from Wool Warehouse. I think I'll have a bit of a break from blanket making now and maybe try my hand at a pair of socks. I bought some sock yarn and needles from a shop in Oxford last year and it has been waiting patiently for me to find the time and courage!

Other happies this week:

Seeing Fergus enjoying some left over vegetable biryani:

 Listening to an audio CD whilst darning in ends:

 My new hyacinth bulbs - I really must try and find a prettier pot:

On a visit to the pound shop to buy some more fat balls for the birds, I impulse bought some tubers. I planted a Dahlia last year and it impressed me with its lovely colour and the fact that it flowered for ages, so I thought a few more would be a good plan. Just a little survey: how do you pronounce the word 'Dahlia'? I've always said it like 'Daylia' but I've heard a few people recently saying it 'Darlia' (like the lentil curry). So I'm wondering if I'm embarrassing myself saying it wrong and people are being too polite to correct me!

 Enjoying this months CH&I and my rosy 'chores notebook'.  I don't know about anyone else but I'm always better if I make a list of things to be done that day. It stops me forgetting stuff and it's immensely satisfying to tick things off as I go. 

 Loving my bedside posy:

 February's garden photo - it was windy and pouring down. That also accounts for the poor light levels in the other photos. 

 Hamish sitting on his mat and enjoying the storm. He's also moulting at the moment and there are fur bunnies everywhere!

 Finally, Penny and Brenda coming inside to watch the rugby at the weekend!

Anyway, that's all for this week. Keep warm and cosy and remember, spring is just around the corner.
Toodle Pip for now. x