It’s been a quiet week.
Knitting was achieved for a swap I have coming up.
And neighbour obviously passed an exam.
This is what you do when you pass your exams in the Nederlands. You hang your backpack/satchel out the front with your flag to tell the world that you’ve passed.
Look, another one …
So much has happened, and continues to happen. Yet it’s all settling down and shuffling itself into a routine now. We both have local mobile numbers and Skype has been set up to keep in touch with those slightly further away.
Letters and postcards are being, and have been, sent to people we love, and with the abundance of beautiful cards available, will continue to be sent too! If you’re so inclined to return the gesture, leave me a message and I’ll email you our postal address! 😉
Himself heads off to the office each day, while I maintain house & home, and work at having merchandise in my store before it re-opens.
Things that continue to take my breath away and bring massive grins of disbelief to my face when I see them are the swans floating down the canals in the centre of town. Doing what swans do, just swanning around. Getting in the way of the boats.
There are so many little alleys to explore, all with hidden secrets and gems to be discovered.
So many times (to the frustration of Himself) we’ll be powering at speed down a street and I’ll stop and veer off to one side to get a closer look at a marionette,
some intricate masks,
or a shop where the entire theme is ROOD! (red) (I’ll take one of everything!!!)
I could spend a lifetime exploring these streets. Everyday there is something new and different to find, explore, and experience.
Oh! And I’ve been knitting too! I’m finally on the edging of the shawl I began on Boxing Day back in Robinsons Bay!
Just 44 more repeats to go!
In the interests of getting to know people Himself and I headed to the local knit night. Himself isn’t a knitter, but it was handy having him there to walk with when I walked down the wrong canal at first and got lost. This wasn’t all bad though, as I put it to you that what we found was a new breed of pukeko! A blue chicken that isn’t blue!
Every time I walk outside I am struck again by how beautiful this city and it’s canals are.
And how old it is too.
Going to knit night though afforded us a new view of them, all lit up at night.
They just get more beautiful.
For now though, let’s leave the canals, and I’ll show you the projects I’ve finished since I got here!
First was this pair of socks for Himself which I began a year ago. (Yes, a year ago. No, I’m not sure where my mojo went) I loved this yarn from Dragonfly Fibres. The colourway was like working old spun metal as it cascaded from gray through green and into subtle burnished colours.
And my travel knitting project, the one I thought I’d never finish, and was afraid I’d hate a foot into it, as posted here … Behold the wonderous rainbow scarf!!!
I love it so much! Now I just need a hat to go with it!!! *grins*
Knit night was a wonderful group of people. All very friendly and welcoming! I’ll be going again next week. For the future though I’ll need to take something a little less brain intensive, as holding a conversation with people you don’t know, and following a lace chart, just doesn’t happen!
Taking inspiration from The Yarn Harlot, I thought I’d show you what my inner knitter has been up to.
She’s a silly bint, who has packed away my other unfinished objects and begun a new scarf instead.
This is ridiculous on a number of levels. The first being that; I hate making scarves. I have previously informed Himself that if I’m about to begin a scarf to tell me not to, and drag the needles out of my hands. Obviously he was unsuccessful in this instance.
I always get about a foot in and think “Oh my goodness! How much longer does this thing need to be?!?” And I can tell you now, I like LONG scarves. Think eight foot long, long scarves. (multiple wrap arounds)
The second reason is that I have 2 unfinished objects that have been hanging on for a year with just a couple hundred odd stitches left to go.
I mean you saw the socks! All they need is one toe decreased, and then to be closed up with kitchener stitch and they’d be done. But no.
For the shiny new colourful yarn with smooth gradient transitions calls to me. It speaks to me, and tells me that it’s much more engaging to watch the colours change as the yarn slides through my fingers.
And entrelac, the stitch pattern, is so much easier than having to follow lace charts! Though still results in an interesting and fun fabric! (Ignoring that fact that I have the sock chart memorised and in decreasing the toe, am no longer even on the chart)
Oh woe.
What ever shall I do with my Inner Knitter?
Isn’t my new scarf going to be gorgeous???!!! *grins*
The Easter long weekend will always be a special one for me. It is a time to spend with friends both old and new, renewing old friendships and forging new bonds up in Lawson. We spent a fair amount of time catching up with our ANZAC who is heading back to the sandpit just in time for ANZAC Day this year … but more on that later!
This year there were special guests that arrived all unobtrusively and invaded. Like good ninjas should! This one is the coffee ninja.
As with all great Aussie back yard BBQs, it ended in a backyard bonfire. I’m glad it was cool enough and there weren’t fire restrictions!
On Saturday night we were again with a friend, catching up over heinous amounts of meat on swords.
The carnage was rather epic.
I’d like to point out that the first person to turn over the little stick from green (I’m up for more meat) to red (stop with the meat) was Himself. I think it just goes to show how unwell he was with his cold the poor blighter!
The only other thing that could truly make my weekend complete was knitting. And boy did I achieve that! I’m finally nearly finished the socks that I began WAY back in April last year! (I can’t believe it’s taken me a year to finish these socks. I wonder where my mojo went?)
I only have to kitchener this one closed, and decrease the toe and kitchener the other and they’ll be done! Just a little something to keep Himself warm and snugly!
I guess I’d best drink my coffee and get on with the week! What did you get up to over the weekend?
ghoti industries 