Bits and Bobs

 Goodness, it's been rather a long time since my last post! I usually average about one per month but this time it is nearer two months. Owing, if I'm honest, to a combination of life and apathy. A few things have happened: L and J came to stay for a few days, which was wonderful; I met my friend, S, at Dyrham Park for a catch up; R and I have been out and about in Bridget, and a bit of autumnal knitting may have occurred along the way too! It doesn't sound much when I write it all down but the time has definitely gone somewhere!

Here then are the photos from my camera clearing session:

I attended a workshop at a local farm to learn how to make Emily Foden's 'Persephone Mittens'. Even though the pattern was a little tricky to understand in places, I could probably have worked it out on my own but the workshop was more of a social gathering with a yummy lunch included. I need to get them finished; they have been on the back burner whilst I worked on my Hallowe'en socks.

 The mug in the photo is the one that I bought in the Leach Pottery in St. Ives. I love it!

Talking of Hallowe'en socks, here they are. They are made with Stranded Dyeworks 'Fright Night' yarn which had been languishing in my stash for a while.

I also made L a pair of birthday socks with the yarn left over from my spiral wrist warmers. I had to add a mini-skein for the toes and cuffs. It is just the one mini-skein but the colour changed as I knitted making for an interesting end result. I don't think L will mind though.

We attended our local vegan market which is always nice. It seemed quite popular - either there are more vegans in the area than I realised or people were just interested.

R and I shared a Sri Lankan curry box sat by the canal - the jackfruit curry was particularly nice:

We also came away with a slice of coffee walnut cake and some free marshmallows. :O)

A trip to the Savernake Forest. I'm ashamed to say that, though this is very local to us, it is the first time we have ever visited it. What a missed opportunity as it was beautiful, full of ancient trees, and we shall definitely be going back.

Dyrham Park near Bath. This place is always good for a day out too. Sadly, the herd of 70 deer that I remember from our last visit had all been recently culled owing to an outbreak of Bovine TB. It was very sad as there have been deer there for over 300 years and the grounds seemed rather lacking without them.

Still, it was a lovely day - the weather was kind to us and the vegan pasty and soup at the cafe were delicious.

R and I enjoying a picnic on our Overton walk:

A walk along the Ridgeway with a rather ominous looking sky:

L and J's pumpkin carving for Hallowe'en. We had a spooky supper and watched 'The Exorcist' - I do love a good horror movie, provided there's not too much blood, spurt and gore! It was also Hamish's 10th birthday, which I think is quite old for a rabbit. He is definitely starting to look his age though, with cataracts and eye drops for his glaucoma. :O(

We had a walk and picnic en famille in Chawton. L and J wanted to see the 2000 year old yew tree and, at the end, we rested on a bench overlooking Jane Austen's house with coffee and cakes from the village deli.

Random autumnal shot of the garden. Most of the leaves are off the trees now:

Last, but definitely not least, Barbara from Coastal Ripples and I did a yarny advent calendar swap again this year. I have decanted the parcels into a basket, got my cosy memory blanket at the ready, and can't wait for December 1st!

Well, that's all for now. As I said initially, it doesn't seem as if that much has happened round here recently. I really don't know where the time has gone. How about you? Anything momentous happening at your end?

Toodle pip for now. xx