Knit Club

Knit Club is still meeting here every first Saturday of the month and September was no exception. As you may know, I am a follower of Jacob's Reward Farm. They meet in the farm's Little Red Barn to spin, knit and partake of crafts of all kinds. Cindy and I have linked our two groups and she has been just great at sending video clips and great pics to me. She even sent a special one across for Steve to welcome him to the spinning fold.



You're a great bunch of ladies! We have also been sent the lovely green project bags and pins with the Jacobs logo embellishment on them...............thank you for those too! You can see them on Cindy's blog
http://www.jacobsreward.blogspot.com/

Cindy, here are the photos I took the last time we met:

This final shot is my lovely daughter, who as I write this is on her way back from London where she has been helping a Uni friend to set up an exhibition on Canary Warf, London. Hard to believe she is 27 isn't it?

A Visit To Wales

On September 23rd 2010, Steve and I celebrated our 32nd wedding anniversary! It doesn't seem all that long ago that I walked down the aisle with my Dad and then stood next to a man who had bee at the church for the previous hour and who had become so nervous, he couldn't lok at me until the minister said'you may now kiss the bride'! He could have been marrying anyone! I am glad it was me! We have had some great times together. As every other couple, we have shared our low times, as well as the good times and of course look forward to many more happy times.


As of today, Steve is all set to create some more happiness all by himself........... as a wedding anniversary gift, I bought him his own spinning wheel!

Isn't she beautiful? We took a trip to Wales to collect her. We paid a visit to Clive and Joan's workshop. It is a handmade wheel and was owned by a lady who was really reluctant to part with it, but thank you, we are very glad you did! We were there for a couple of hours while Steve tried out the wheel, while I made friends with their little dog Billy. I am adding a link to Clive and Joan's site.
http://www.woodland-turnery.co.uk/
 We met them at Knit Camp,where their lovely daughter sat Steve down with a couple of their wheels and introduced him to spinning. We were particularly impressed, as they were both recovering from a heavy cold and this was the first time they had been at the workshop since. Just wanted to say how much we appeciated you coming out to meet us, and on a Sunday too!
Thanks to all of you for your help!

As we were leaving, Joan suggested a good place to stop for lunch. A garden centre called Secret Garden. Here's a link: http://www.secretgardenwales.co.uk/
We both recommend the Quiche and side salad!

We had a pretty uneventful journey home, but the good sunny weather and blue sky certainly helped to further the enjoyment of the day.

Keep spinning Steve!

A Fantastic Day!

      Isn't it great when you meet up for a day with a friend you haven't seen for months? Today was just such a day....... I met up with Leigh who I used to work with until she moved out of the area. We met at the bus station (we share the fact that neither of us drives) and then Dad suggested that we go to the local cafe for coffee. When Dad is staying we go there almost every day, but only when the weather's kind enough, as we invariably have his little Jack Russell, Billy, with us and of course, can only have a coffee if we sit outside.

Then after a few food purchases, we made our way home. After a light snack for lunch, Leigh said that she had been given a teacosy kit for Christmas, but that as she didn't knit she had shoved it out of the way and almost forgotten about it! So of course, as any friend would, I asked if she would like a knitting lesson. She said that she didn't think she would be able to learn, but I said, that there were few people who found they could really not do it. To cut this story short, she is one of the fastest students I have ever taught! She had it within about 10 mins! I think we were both amazed!

I think she has almost got it..................

.......................... Looking much more comfortable!

Later we had a tea which consisted of Cheese and Cucumber Flan (recipe to follow!) and salad with baked potatoes, followed by Strawberries and Clotted Cream. I provided the first course, Leigh provided the dessert......thank you, the strawbs and cream was wonderful and a real treat!
Then after sitting chatting for a while it was time to drop my lovely friend home. It is just as well Steve drives, as if we had been reliant on buses, we would have only had a couple of hours together! However, as we neared Leigh's home town, we were diverted a couple of times. After that, and a welcome stop for a very quick, qery strong coffee, we eventually arrived home at 11pm!

It was all worth it, I am thinking, as I get ready for bed. I have spent quality time with a great friend, who now has a new skill! Where will it take her? It has taken me to Scotland, Caused me to have the courage to set up my own craft group and through the crafts of both knitting and crochet,I have met and made yet more wonderful friends!

Last night something fantastic happened! Steve, who had attended Spin Night, when he accompanied me to Stirling, and been inspired by what he saw, expressed a wish to spin. So, when we arrived home, we checked out the price of wheels. We couldn't afford one right away. However, a friend, Anita, from the Group, when she heard of Steve's wish wanted to teach him. She later appeared with her daughter's wheel. That was Tuesday last week, last night everything clicked into place and Steve is now SPINNING! I am so excited as now we can manage all the processes, except sheering (and I guess that could be arranged!) towards producing our own scratch knitted garments! I am SO proud of him! Go Steve!!!

Home...........Back to Reality?

Well not quite! There was still a lot of fibre and chat going on! But before I get on to that.........


We arrived home at about 11pm Saturday night. Sunday, we had to be up with the lark, as DD#2 had to be at work half an hour's drive away and needed her Dad to take her. So we saw her safely there and called into a garden centre fpr a quick bite to eat. We then set off for Heaven's Gate, where our dearly departed dog, Daisy came from. We watched the dogs who are waiting for homes go through their agility paces. Some were very talented! I fell in love with a couple of greyhounds, and somehow managed to resist (with Steve's help!).

.http://www.maunsellock.co.uk/

Here's the link above, to the place where we often spend a Sunday afternoon so now you can picture us there most lazy Sunday afternoons! I was surprised that we weren't in any of the photos on the video. It's such a peaceful place and the little movie clip does it real justice,


The canal will still be there next weekend, the dogs were well worth the visit!