Sunday Sevens comes to you on a Monday this week, with twice as many photos as the title would suggest.
1. The week started well with some Happy Mail.
2. The grey yarn is for this cabled poncho-with-sleeves…..
3. ….and the cream yarn is for a West Highland Terrier from the book ‘Best In Show’.
4. This was Mr H-L’s office for the week, a villa in Portugal for a week of company meetings by the pool.
5. Which meant I had to take No.3 Son to football training. It was almost too dark to knit in the car by 7pm.
6. The landscapers were back to finish up with a retaining wall on the driveway.
7. The barn in the field behind us has been sold and will soon become a bungalow or, as is the preferred term nowadays, a ‘single storey dwelling’! Luckily, no further development will be allowed so our view will remain largely unchanged.
8. Ellie The Elephant has been finished and now also has a wardrobe full of clothes.
9. These cakes were my contribution to the huge Macmillan Coffee Morning in aid of Cancer Support.
10. The Year 6 children ran the event. Here is No.3 Son doing his best to sell my cakes – I had to buy one back for him before they all sold!
11. This little fella nearly got put out with the recycling as he was hiding in the bin.
12. A Harvest Supper was held in the village hall on Saturday night. Not much has gone on events-wise in the hall since I stepped down after eight years on the committee, so this church-run event was a welcome get together for the villagers. The village hall is the sole venue for entertainment in the village – if it doesn’t happen here, it doesn’t happen at all.
13. No’s 1&3 Sons joined us (plus girlfriend), but No.2 Son was missed:(
14. We’re still spoiling Fifi – here she is wrapped up in hubby’s T-shirt, curled up on our bed for the night. She seems to be OK at the moment, fingers crossed.
October 2, 2017 at 1:52 pm
Your elephant is adorable and you can’t beat squishy mail.
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October 2, 2017 at 1:56 pm
Indeed – only a fellow yarn addict can understand the excitement with such a parcel!
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October 2, 2017 at 2:08 pm
Ooh – is that a single strand of kidsilk haze to knit the doggy? Having struggled with the lacy scarf last year using that, I’m even more reluctant to fork out for the book now I’ve seen that. Let me know how it goes.
Bless little Fifi – I’m glad you’re spoiling her.
The cabled poncho is fetching but it’s a shame the model has Freddie Kruger hands – you’d think they’d have hidden them with a pair of cabled mittens 😉
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October 2, 2017 at 2:17 pm
That’s what somebody on IG said about the model’s hands – she’s actually wearing leather gloves, I think! Worse than that, the kidsilk haze is knitted two strands together and is a nightmare to unpick as I know from experience. Other dogs in the book require different yarn, but the haze is ideal for the Westie. I made seven scarves using kidsilk haze and rather enjoyed it, I have to say. It taught me to concentrate more and not make silly mistakes, if nothing else, as the thought of pulling back was horrific:)
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October 2, 2017 at 2:22 pm
I have used it held together with Kid Classic – two strands held together – and that goes very nicely but I couldn’t get on with it on its own.
The model has brown leather gloves and is holding sticks which is what looks very creepy – perhaps it’s just me
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October 2, 2017 at 2:24 pm
No, not just you – it could definitely have been photographed better! I promise to wear it with more thought to my accessories:)
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October 2, 2017 at 2:18 pm
I am jealous of your mail! I’m knitting a sweater with the Kidsilk right now and it is soooo good. It will make an adorable dog. The poncho looks fab. I can’t wait to see what the final product looks like.
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October 2, 2017 at 2:26 pm
I’ve made lots of scarves using Kidsilk Haze, but never a jumper. Sounds fab and will be so light to wear. The poncho won’t be light!
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October 2, 2017 at 3:14 pm
🐶🐶😀🕊🦋🌺🐝 🐌
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October 2, 2017 at 6:08 pm
Thanks so much for including the village hall event! I’ve read so much about them in various novels and always wonder about them.
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October 3, 2017 at 1:21 pm
They’re just community buildings which really are the centre of the universe in a small village! With nothing else, no pub, no shop, everything happens here.
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October 4, 2017 at 4:13 am
I’d gathered as much about them from my reading, but had never actually *seen* one. Does your village have a library? I know many of yours have been closed. Many (most?) of ours over here have been gutted and books randomly (depends on who you’re talking to, of course) thrown away, burnt, but if lucky, were set out for people to purchase to benefit the library.
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October 4, 2017 at 8:16 am
No, but there is one in the next village and there are mobile libraries/banks/post offices. You know the red telephone boxes that England is famous for? Well, most are decommissioned since the advent of mobile phones and are being bought by the villages for £1. Quite a significant number have been turned into mini libraries. I’ll take a picture next time I see one.
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October 4, 2017 at 1:07 pm
Ooo, yes, the quintessential red phone boxes! I knew about them abut didn’t realise they could be bought. How clever!! (Would love a piccie if it’s not too much bother. Thank you!)
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October 2, 2017 at 10:56 pm
I love that poncho! Not sure I’d have the patient though to make it, I think the speed of sewing has spoilt me, but I’ll enjoying following your progress. I’m ridiculously behind but am looking forward to seeing what you and yours have been up to! x
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October 3, 2017 at 1:23 pm
I’ve done about two inches of the poncho and am struggling to work out the next bit. I’ll get there eventually – hopefully before it gets too warm to wear it again😬
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October 7, 2017 at 12:02 am
might it be easier with a glass of wine?🍷
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October 7, 2017 at 9:14 am
After a bit of research, it turns out there are several errors in the pattern and Bergere de France won’t respond to my email:(
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October 7, 2017 at 12:11 pm
That’s not good! Especially with all the time and money it costs🙀
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October 3, 2017 at 10:57 am
Elephant = ADORABLE! I so admire your knitting skills. I’ve thought of taking a Craftsy class to learn but I just truly have no time. I’ve picked up a bit of cross stitch to keep my hands busy while watching evening TV but even that sits on the end table most of the time. I was stationed in Azores, Portugal for a year and LOVED it. Only made it to the mainland once for Fat Tuesday in Venice – a shame really when you were “right there!” 🙂 I gained a pound while I looked at your cakes…thanks. Poor Fifi, give her a pet for me. Be sure to post finished driveway pics. Love the post!
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October 3, 2017 at 1:26 pm
Thanks Becky, glad you enjoyed the post! I like to have lots of different projects in different disciplines on the go as it means I’ve always got something to do that I’m in the mood for. Garden photos will follow in due course.
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October 3, 2017 at 12:10 pm
I cannot wait to see that West Highland Terrier! And I LOVE the elephant!
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October 3, 2017 at 12:18 pm
I’ve just blogged the Westie:)
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October 3, 2017 at 1:17 pm
I love the happy mail, the grey looks just perfect for such a big project. And the doggie is super cute.
Happy to see your garden again, it is always so nice. And also glad to hear the view will remain pretty much the same. 🙂
So nice to see all the happenings in the village and at the school. And Wow on those fancy cupcakes. Just perfect!!
Happy knitting and crafting and hugs to Fifi. 🙂 xx
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October 3, 2017 at 1:29 pm
Thanks Joey! Hugs to Miekie, too. The garden is looking so much better, even in the rain. I’m not really a grey person, but it’s such a useful colour and can be brightened up with colourful scarves.
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October 4, 2017 at 8:36 am
Colourful scarves for sure, and not to forget your stunning colourful boots too!!
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October 3, 2017 at 6:54 pm
Love the poncho. I want one! Ellie certainly made me smile. Is she a Christmas present for someone? Cakes look scrumptious, no wonder No 3 son wanted you to buy one back. Hugs to Fifi and to you – know how hard it is when you’re where you are with her.
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October 3, 2017 at 8:02 pm
Yes, Ellie is a present for a little girl in the family whereas the poncho is for me. Fifi is on top form at the moment, but we all know how quickly that can change so we’re making the most of her good spirits while we can. Without wishing to tempt fate, it looks like she may reach her fifteenth birthday next month:)
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October 4, 2017 at 8:06 am
I should jolly well hope the poncho is for you! 🙂 Great to hear Fifi’s currently in a good place – but I know that still leaves you knowing what you’re heading for eventually and it’s still not an easy place to be however well she’s doing. Rooting here for you and her as always xx
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October 4, 2017 at 8:12 am
Thanks so much Bekki, that means a lot. X
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October 4, 2017 at 8:23 am
I didn’t realise how much weight I was carrying after I’d been told Hicks had about two months to go with that tumour, until I’d dissolved in tears one day and someone said ‘you’ve been living with knowing this for a month now, it is hard’. And suddenly I realised just how difficult it was living day to day in that situation. So although i know you’re not quite in the same place as I was, I know it’s hard and emotional and my heart goes out to you. Much love to you my friend xx
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October 4, 2017 at 9:51 am
So true…..I just find myself picking her up and cuddling her at every opportune moment because I know soon I won’t be able to. The times we’ve actually been at the vets expecting them to put her to sleep and then getting a reprieve….it ‘s an emotional roller coaster, that’s for sure. Xx
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October 4, 2017 at 11:41 am
Certainly is, but (and I’m sure you don’t need me to tell you this) it’s also a privilege to know we’re close, because it’s all too easy to let life get in the way and not give those cuddles as often when we think we have a lot of time. In the end Hicks’ tumour was the biggest gift, because it played no part in us losing him, but told us the clock was ticking and we made the absolute most of the last month we did have left. Hope you’ve got lots more cuddles with Fifi to come xx
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