We celebrated our wedding anniversary recently. We celebrated quietly, but with style.
Moet, with lightly pan fried salmon and blanched vegetables. So good.
Who could ask for more?
I’ve been knitting!
So I haven’t caught you up on the knitting for a while, so here goes!
I finally finished the scarf I was making for Himself’s birthday. Turned out rather well I thought! More importantly, He likes it!
I’ve been working out a new pattern for some brooches to sell. I found some beautiful vintage crystal buttons for the centres! And the mohair yarn is incredibly soft! They’re like flowers made from clouds!
I have been forced to stop work on the Evenstar Shawl as I’ve run out of yarn. I have more on the way. It’s just still on its way with all our other stuff.
Of course, working without all my usual tools handy does have a few drawbacks! I’m really missing my swift and ball winder! But we made do. It just took a little longer than usual.
You can’t stop me from knitting! Especially not when I get my hands on my favourite Lorna’s Laces, Helen’s Lace yarn, in the most warm creamy delicious chocolate colour! So smooth! So soft!
It doesn’t look like much yet … Of course as beautiful as that piece is going to be when it’s done, it’s getting a touch big to take to Knit Night. So I’ve begun some socks in a gorgeous yarn sent to me along with a jar of vegemite from the UK! Thank you Clare! It’s just the most beautiful liquid buttery colour!
I’m doing them in a falling leaves pattern in anticipation of my first real Autumn which is on it’s way! Living in a mostly evergreen country up until recently has had it’s downsides. I can’t wait to see all the leaves change colour!
Amsterdam Pride 2012
Along with several thousand other people, we made our way to the Prinsengracht to watch the Amsterdam 2012 Pride Parade on Saturday.
The Parade was as wonderful as any I’ve been to or participated in. Though it was interesting to watch the crowd, as I’ve never seen a crowd so difficult to rile up! Only one float got a real reaction out of them in the 4 hour parade, and that was the group doing the actions to YMCA.
My large camera brings all the boys to my yard … ?
These guys were wonderful and everyone did stop and respond when the bugle played and they saluted the crowds.
The queens.
The queen Queen. Good ol’ Bea!
Some of the expressions I captured were just priceless!
The Dancers are always full of energy! (I’m not sure anything could have stopped this guy!)
There is s unique logistical problem with holding the Parade on the canals. For the first time ever, I’ve seen the floats actually float. But they also have to get under bridges. So what you get, is a lot of floats being air filled, like jumping castles, that get hauled down and deflated at the last minute.
Though this solution was elegantly executed also …
The other popular theme this year was ticker tape cannons. So I’ll leave you today with this shot.
Have a Rainbow filled day, and life, My Fabulous Fishies! *air kisses*
Ice Cream!
I scream,
You scream,
We all scream
For Ice Cream!
Did I mention we had been informed of a supposedly excellent ice cream shop just near where we live? Probably not. Well, we had. And what better excuse to go exploring than ice cream?!
We found it! And going by the number of local families who appeared to be taking the kids there as a Sunday treat, it indicated good things to me regarding the quality of the product we were about to sample!
With this many flavours going it made it difficult to choose which we would indulge in first!
But choose we did (eventually). Himself went for two scoops of blueberry in a waffle cone, while I indulged myself with a scoop each of strawberry cheesecake and stroopwaffel!
All three were absolutely delicious. Smooth, creamy, and rich in flavour. I am now looking forward to going back and trying a few more flavours!
I’m going to have to get more rigorous about going for rides in the woods to burn it all off!
Local Woods
As has been evidenced in a previous post, where we live now is rather green, and after staring at google maps the other day, I decided that there was a section I really wanted to explore with my camera. Thankfully, Himself is amenable to my whims, and off we set to explore the local woods! Having already spotted my first wild hedgehog just up the street from where we’re living, I thought I’d up my chances of finding another in the actual woods!
Alas, it was not to be on this occasion. But there was still lots to see!
I love all the flora which is so different from what I’m used to.
Though we were in the woods, it doesn’t stop there being streams and canals all over! This picturesque little bridge was the subject of quite a few photos!
The bumble bees were out in force and hovering over the thistles and other pink flowers mostly. I still find the sight of actual bumble bees a thrill!
Not only is there canals everywhere, but it had been raining. So everything was a little damp. But the water level never changes. This would be the difference between canals and creeks.
Something that I had been told all my life but had never seen was that if lost in the woods, moss will always grow on the North side of trees. Well, have some ivy doing just that!
I have mentioned before on twitter that I love all the natural long grasses that line all the canals and major roads. This is the perfect example of the vibrant splashes of red poppy that punctuate these grasses.
Another bumble bee all laden down with pollen. (They’re so cute and fluffy!!!)
And this Ladies and Gentlemen of the audience, is in my opinion, the cutest house in the village!
Oh look! Another bike shop. I think I’ve spotted a theme …
ghoti industries 