A Little Bit In Love With Lima (And Some Playful Wrist Warmers)

I think I'm quite late to the Drops party.

I was shopping around my new favourite yarn website (consistently superb delivery service - my own unbiased opinion) for an inexpensive wool-mix yarn and came across Drops Lima in the loveliest muted shades.

DROPS Lima is a 4 strands sport yarn, and a continuation of our great success and bestseller DROPS Nepal. The fibers are untreated, which means that they are only washed and not exposed to any chemical treatment prior to the dyeing. This highlights the fibers’ natural properties, while it provides also a better shape and texture quality.

Lima can be used with advantage for outdoor garments like classic Norwegian sweaters and sportswear, that are usually knitted tight for good shape stability. This hard wearing and durable wool quality is combined with the lovely and comfortable properties that the alpaca is known for. A sport yarn with a little bit more luxury!

DROPS Lima contains mixed colours, this means the wool is manufactured by carding the colours together before spinning, which gives it a mixed effect.

"Well that looks nice" I thought.  (Though let's face it, there's nothing quite like being able to poke, fondle and bury your face in yarn to really tell.)

"£2.00 a ball?" I thought.

"Why not?" I thought and ordered a ball in each of my five favourite colours.

Why not indeed?  It's lush and I'm a little bit in love with it.

I was dying to have a 'play' so naturally selected my namesake first (Heather) and, it being one of the hottest days of the year, decided to make a pair of easy wrist warmers!!!

I opted for a simple rib effect which is just plain old double crochet (US single crochet) worked in the back loops only.  The rib stitch gives quite a lot of stretch to the crochet which I like for wrist warmers - rather than looking too 'tubey', they will stretch with the contours of your hand and wrist.

Anyway, if you're interested, I simply crocheted two identical rectangles (one for each wrist warmer) just like this ...

Edited to add : I think the heat got to my brain when I was adding the details to this picture! Firstly, I've used US terminology for some reason (?) and secondly, I actually double crocheted (in back loops only) 18, chained 8, skipped 8 and double crocheted (blo) 4.  Sorry.

... and then, bringing the first row up to meet the final row on each one, double crocheted them together.  You could of course slip stitch or sew them - whichever takes your fancy.

Rather frustratingly there wasn't quite enough yarn in one ball to complete the pair so I did have to order another.  However, I figure they cost about £2.50 in total to make.

You could wear them plain or have a little fun decorating them.  I was rummaging through my button drawer and came across a little packet of floral Cath Kidston badges.  Ooh pretty.

Then, because I was in a slightly playful mood, I selected a ball of Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino and made a little frill along the joining seam - just three half trebles (US half doubles) in each stitch.

What do you think?

I may crochet a frill on the other one, maybe in a different colour, but I may not.

xxx

School's Out For Summer

Well, we made it!

School's officially out for summer and, gosh, does it feel good!

Blondie Daughter went off yesterday morning clutching, amongst other things, two apple brooches; one for each of her Year 6 teachers.  (Handmade by my lovely talented pal Ali and currently for sale in her new Etsy shop.)

Blondie Son refused point blank to even take a card for his Year 9 teacher.  Honestly, you'd think I'd suggested he propose to her.  Aren't 14 year old boys funny?

Ooh, I do love the summer holidays.  I love not having to get up and pack lunches at 6:30am.  I love the break from the school run.  I love that the afternoons feel so much longer.  I love the ceremonial dumping of hanging-by-a-thread school shoes and seen-better-days uniform.

However.  Years of experience have taught me that, in three or four weeks time, after hearing "I'm sooo bored" several hundred times and refereeing endless squabbles, I will be sorely tempted to drop both children back at school whether it's open or not!!!

Haven't we had the most glorious weather here in the UK this week?  It looks set to continue for a little while which is fabulous news.  Historically, the beginning of the school holidays heralds grey skies and rain.  I think we only managed a couple of alfresco meals last year.

Our little garden is looking lovely and colourful at the moment.  (Any droplets of water you see are from the watering can and not rain!)

I was precariously close to this bee as it went about it's buzzy business on my dahlias.  Anything for a photo though!

I'm thrilled with my Nasturtiums.  I grew them from seed and, at one point, did wonder if they were ever actually going to flower.  Only this last week have the long tendrils appeared bearing a rainbow of flowers.  Their petals are edible (quite hot and peppery) and delicious in salads, not to mention startlingly pretty.

My accidental strawberries - they appeared from a crack in the wall and are all the sweeter for thriving despite neglect!

It's been a delight to potter around in a pretty dress, squirt of perfume and not a lot else!

I've barely picked up a crochet hook this week.  After-school parties, trips and awards ceremonies have eaten in to my precious early evening crochet time.  I have been giving some thought to what to take away on holiday though.  I want a nice portable hooky project to get my teeth into.

I'll leave you with a handful of my recent Instagram pictures ...

This week also saw me collect my very first pair of glasses.  Rather than lament the gradual failing of my faculties at the age of 41 years old, I've decided to embrace my new specs appeal! ;-)

Have a wonderful weekend.

xxx

Two Days In Norfolk

D and I sloped off to Norfolk for two delicious days on our own this week.  We've just celebrated 20 years since our first kiss so this was our little anniversary treat!

We spent most of Thursday in Holt and stayed at Byfords, having first fallen in love with it a couple of years ago.

If you ever find yourself in the area, do try and pop in to Byfords.  Their cafe/deli is open all day to non-residents and the food is amazing, from generous slabs of gooey homemade cake (D's favourite) to mouthwatering antipasti platters (my favourite).

(Eggs Benedict and smoked salmon for brekkie?  Why, yes please!)

I need to try and track down some of the locally made Binham Blue cheese online.  It's milder and creamier than Stilton and has the most gorgeous taste.  I'd have brought some home but the prospect of tooling around in the heat with whiffy cheese on board wasn't so appealing!

We pottered around Holt's little winding streets and charming shops.  (D was wildly excited to finally find a large madeleine cake tin - rather worringly, one of the highlights of his weekend I think!!!)

We dipped in and out of the hidden courtyards for a pot or two of tea.

On Friday we got in the car and explored a few of the nearby towns.

Sheringham is a typical English seaside town with flapping bunting and whirling windmills.  The pebbled beach is flanked by huge concrete sea defences which, to be honest, may be necessary but aren't terribly attractive.  I did love the splash of colour from the little beach huts though.

Oh to be beside the sea again.  We live right in the middle of England, over two hours from the coast, so it's always such a joy to paddle and breathe the sea air.

Wild poppies, everywhere.  Sometimes great swathes of them.

We then strolled around the old port of Blakeney ...

 before heading to Burnham Market.  It reminded me of a Cotswold village.  A tree-studded green in the middle surrounded by little independent shops and tea rooms.

These big blowsy apricot roses seemed to be everywhere (I'd love to know what type of rose they are) - with really nostalgic heady scents.  You remember the type you used to smoosh up to make rose petal perfume when you were a child?

We had lunch under an olive tree in the garden of local hotel; a large glass of cold white wine and a very overpriced Tricolore Salad!  Meh!!!

On the way home, we stopped at a farm shop in Cambridgeshire and bought some eggs, beetroot, strawberries and raspberries.  Close your eyes and remember how raspberries used to taste - soft, juicy and sweet.  Not at all like the tart bullets you often buy in supermarkets.  I want them to last forever.

Also, this apple juice.  I'm not a big fan of apple juice but this is the nicest I have EVER tasted.  It's like nectar.  I've just found the Watergull Orchards website and am very tempted to place an order.

Oh it was the loveliest little break.  I do love that husband of mine and, best of all, I thoroughly adore his company.  You know, especially when it's just us.  Such a treat, particularly as we come back to the chaos of the last week of the school year!

Here's to the next twenty years darling man.

xxx

Blogging Or Instagram Or Both?

Hello there!

This post is a sort of continuation of my 'good for the soul remedies' I think.  I've been feeling very mentally cluttered and know there is huge room for improvement in the way I organise my time.  Or rather the way I don't organise my time.

For the purpose of this post, I'm going to talk primarily about blogging and Instagramming.

I consider both blogging and Instagramming as 'my time'.  They're an essential hobby and, selfish or not, I need them both to be part of my life.

There is no need for me to be prolific - I don't have a business to promote or anything to sell.  I don't Tweet and I rarely check in on Facebook.  I indulge in blogging and Instagram for purely personal reasons.

I just don't think I've got the balance right yet.  Sadly it's my blog that's suffering - my posts are too sporadic and I get terribly cross with myself that your kind comments are going unacknowledged.  Trust me, I read every one and do float in and out of your blogs from time to time, only getting distracted or called away before I get chance to comment.  Bad blogging manners I'm afraid and it won't do.  For example, Patricia left the loveliest comment on my last post just this morning and it made my day.  Seriously.  Now, ordinarily, she wouldn't have known that.

The other thing that has been bugging me is that there have been several scenarios I should have shared with you, here on my blog, rather than just Instagram because I know you'd have enjoyed them.

Instagramming is easy because it's so spontaneous.  I've always kept my profile private so that I'm confident of my smallish audience.  I often liken it to a magical little world inside my phone.  Clicking the little Instagram icon is, for me, like opening a door to Narnia.  Only it's not Narnia, it's a group of like-minded, inspiring, supportive, entertaining friends who are almost constantly on call.  I consider a lot of people I have met on Instagram as proper friends.  I think that's because there is far more opportunity for conversation.

Truthfully?  Being a stay at home mum/work from home mum can get a little lonely.  Spaniels are wonderful listeners but their conversational skills aren't so great!!!  A quick exchange on Instagram about the benefits of a certain type of yarn over another or what we're all cooking for supper gives me pleasure and sets me up for the day.

I don't put as much thought into most of my Instagram photographs and consequently don't keep many of them.  I think they convey my mood more than anything of particular photographic interest.

Blogging is more measured - taking the time to construct a post affords me the opportunity to think through what I'm conveying to anyone who might be reading.  To censor myself I suppose!  Think yourself lucky that you don't run the risk of being confronted with an extra large photograph of me after a few vinos and a skittish caption!!!

I am in total admiration of those clever few who maintain a balanced presence on both their blog and Instagram.  Yes, I mean you Sandra Cherry Heart and Chipper Nelly.  I'm sure there are others but these are the two that always spring to my mind.

I hope you don't mind me voicing my thoughts (I'm aware they're a bit jumbly) but it really does help.  It has also made me realise just how much I love and miss regular blogging.

I think one of my problems is that I make heavy weather of composing a lengthy and varied post.  Don't you agree, shorter and more frequent posts are just as, if not more, engaging?

One of my favourite blogs at the moment is Tales From A Happy House.  To me, Gillian has the most perfectly balanced blog and her posts are always a delight.  I do hope she won't mind me saying this, but her posts can occasionally be no more than sharing a 'moment' or two.  Now that I know she is on Instagram too, I'm shamed into making more of an effort.

Yes, that's what I'm going to do.  Make the effort to be a little less mutually exclusive.  So, in answer to Blogging Or Instagram Or Both?  The answer is Both.  I'm going to start sharing more 'moments' with you here and see how we go.

I think I'm feeling better about it already ...

xxx