Tuesday, December 30, 2014

Post-Christmas update



I've been MIA for some time now. It wasn't intentional, but when things get busy, as they often do this time of year, the blog is one of the things that falls off the cliff. There were any number of occasions when I thought 'oh, I need to blog about that', but I just never found the time to upload the photographs, look through them, write a post... I'm sure it was the same for a lot of you too.


We spent Christmas in Germany this year. It was good - seeing family and friends, spending time with the boys, taking walks in the forest, going to the local Christmas market - but it's also oh so very nice to be back. Our return journey was a bit of an adventure because after some quite mild weather the temperature dropped to -10C the day of our departure and it started snowing in the early hours of the morning. I don't think the journey to Rotterdam has ever taken us quite this long, not because we had trouble with our car (we go in a 4-wheel-drive because it isn't the first time we've been caught out by a cold snap) but because everyone else was. This is what the motorway looked like for the majority of our journey:


The boys, of course, were outraged by the whole thing. First there was no snow for DAYS, and then, on the day of our departure, when they can't play in it because they'd get wet and cold, it starts snowing. And not just that - all their hopes of a snowball fight on British shores were dashed when we arrived back home and found that there was not a fleck of snow here! 


We've had some beautiful frosty weather, though, so the day after we got back I grabbed the camera and my knitting and crochet (yes, I've still been working on WIPs!) and went into the back garden to make use of that clear winter light. 


Look at how the natural daylight makes the colours on the mystery blanket pop! I finished all the squares before we left for Germany and then assembled it all while there. I'm still working on the border, but apart from that it's done. I'm so happy with how it's turning out. Here are a few more pictures of it, though not taken outside (the frost everywhere meant that I couldn't spread it out very well...).




It should be big enough to fit a single bed quite comfortably, but I suspect it will probably end up downstairs as a snuggle blanket on the sofa. :)

I've also been working away at the Garter Yoke cardi. I'm finding the sleeve knitting quite dull, so I've been a bit slow with this, but it's made a good travel project so I got a few inches done on the way to Germany and back. I think I have perhaps 5" to go now, so I'll try to prioritise the project so I can start wearing the cardi.


  

22 comments:

  1. Nice projects (and photos!)!

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  2. The colors of your blanket are amazing. I love them. Sleeves are a bit boring to do but the sweater will be nice when completed. And it looks very warm.

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    1. Thank you - I've completed the sleeves now so just waiting for the buttons. Can't wait to wear it! x

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  3. I love that blanket! What a beautiful project!

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    1. Thank you, and thanks for stopping by! :)

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  4. Some beautiful photos and it sounds like a fabulous trip, but I know what you mean about being at home! I love that blanket - the colours are gorgeous.

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    1. Thank you. It was a good trip, but it was also good to get back. x

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  5. welcome back to the blog world (and thanks for popping into mine!)....missed you. So glad to see the progress on the blanket...WOW!!!! It is FABULOUS!!!! What a labor of love.
    From the looks of the pile of goodies under your tree....it must have been a stellar holiday!!!! (Sorry about the lack of snow---none here, either. fingers crossed we get at least a LITTLE before spring bursts through!)

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    1. Thanks Steph, and thanks for stopping by! :)

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  6. What a beautiful blanket!! I love the colors.

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  7. What a mountain of presents. I remember when our big family gatherings were like that. Awww, sorry Mother Nature didn't deliver for your kids. That is some blanket. You did a good job. Sorry the arm knitting is boring. I really like that color.

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    1. The present pile always looks a bit crazy, lol! And we are still hoping for some snow. Had some pretty cold days, but they were always clear, so no snow yet...

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  8. Hi, I have just discovered your blog, nice one by the way.
    Lovely and bright blanket and the cardi is looking gorgeous.

    I am spending holidays with my family in Catalonia, where I am from but we haven't done the returning journey to the UK yet, where I live with my partner and daughter, we must still go all through France which is quite a lot :)

    Happy new year!

    Lluisa xx

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    1. Hi Lluisa, nice to 'meet' you! :) That sounds like quite a journey you had to go through - hope you had a lovely holiday though. x

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  9. Anonymous4:31 pm

    Welcome back and it always gets kind of crazy around the holiday season. Love the colours in your blanket and nothing quite like a frosty crisp morning to make them pop. The cardi is coming along and you'll soon be snuggled up inside it.

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  10. The blanket's looking amazing - I love the colours and it looks great! Glad you had a good Christmas and safe travels.

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    1. Thanks! :) Hope you had a good Christmas too. x

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  11. The blanket is stunning! I sure enjoyed all your pictures-and the one of the snowy road gave me chills. That is what it is like here when we get snow. I really like the yarn you are using for your sweater too.....
    Happy New Year!

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    1. Thanks, and yes, that drive back was quite something...

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