My latest finish

Another Christmas present done :)) Pyjamas bag with fairies. (Design: Fairyland by Natalie Bird)

The bag now has a pink ribbon round the hook - I had forgotten that when I took the photo. Gives it a cute finish. This is for my great-niece.

I will be off tomorrow to Oslo. I'm going to meet up with my sister there. And on Monday we are going to Cliff Richard's concert!! I can remember going with her to a cinema in Seaford to see "The young ones" and "Summer holiday" when I was quite young. He was gorgeous .... and then the Beatles came along!

So this is going to be fun ... I've just got to polish my "Shadow's Walk".

Two down ...

One birthday present and one adventcalender present done. Funny yarn - but once I got the hang of knitting with it, it went really quick. Just three stitches and plain knitting. The long caterpillar one has to be sewn together, but I must find out how big granddaughter's head is now. 'Cause you got it, right - ear warmers for two small pink-loving girls.

Thoughts on Poppy Day

They are so beautiful and so sad. I actually got the poppies in Spain - they aren't used here. They always remind me of my granddad who left Norway to fight in WWI. He ruined his health in the trenches and ended up in hospital in England. Somehow he met my nan and the connection between Norway and England was established.

During WWII their house was open to the soldiers who had left their homes to fight in a foreign country. They had several guests from Norway and from Canada.

Sadly he passed away before I was old enough to be interested in what he'd done so I never got the chance to ask.

My thanks go to those who stand up for truth and freedom. My hope is that we one day won't have to fight for it.

Another go

Last weekend I tried to post about the baby quilt I had finished - at long last. Just as I pressed save, everything disappeared!!!

The next morning I left for a few days in Spain, and haven't been able to post until today. So here goes:

Detail 1: Every corner is embroidered. Baby's mum is a tattoo artist and the dragon is for the tattoos on my son. (Every boy must have a dragon sometime).
The owl is for the one on my shoulder and is also a signature.
The boy is named Balder - after one of the norse gods. He was beautiful and kind and wherever his horse trod, springs would appear.
The sun rune, Balder's special sign.
The whole quilt. The first big one I've made. It measures 115 cm square. So he can use it a long time.
Quite pleased with it and with getting it finished so I can get on with all the boms and xmas stuff that are waiting to be sewn. Have got some with me ... guess how much I've done so far???

But the weather is marvellous and I must enjoy it while I can. Hope you have a lovely day, too.

My Brocken witch.

Halloween isn't a tradition here, but we do have the myths of women flying on broomsticks - off to meet their like and the devil. The mountain where they met is called Bloksberg in Norwegian - which is actually Mount Brocken in Germany.

On one of our holidays we made a visit (of course!) We took a steam train up the mountain, and though a summer's day - there was thick fog. A lot of the trees were damaged and dry and spooky in the fog. I don't know if there had been a fire or if the witches crashlanded in the trees, breaking off branches and scorching trunks.
My mother-in law bought me a witch to hang in my kitchen - still not sure which of us it is.... but she enjoys her little outing every autumn.
We also bought some witches brew - some fiery concoction made with herbs. The taste brings to mind some of the fairy tale ingredients, so it has lasted several years! Just a nip and a shudder on Halloween (hihi)

I also got this little witch brooch.
A peek at the baby quilt. Sorry about the quality of the photo - I had to hang it over the back of a chair. I ran out of the dark blue and the heart fabrics, but got to town yesterday to get some more. I see now that I should have fussy cut the sheep. Maybe I should have kept to just blues, but I'll see when the borders are on. The parents aren't really the baby blue type. It's the first time I've tried anything this big, and I'm looking forward to seeing it finished.

Ready, steady, go!

Each year I make an advent calender for the grandchildren.

(I always made one for my own boys and loved the way their faces lit up with pleasure every morning in December.)

Having 2 grandies means 48 parcels! I try to vary homemade and bought, sensible and fun things. And of course I try to keep the cost down! So I start hunting around early. (And end in a rush!)

Girlie things are easy - scrunchies and hairclips are great fillers. Boy things aren't so easy, so I have to be on the look-out. The fun part for me is in the hunting and making, and that no other kids have a calender like it.

Yesterday I finished girlie parcel no 1! Warm, alpaca wool socks to keep little J's feet snug on cold winter days.
The 2009 calender rush is officially opened

Today I skinned the dog...

Well, maybe not quite, but very close!

This is a before photo. Proper Beatle!

Her coat is very coarse and thick - meant to protect against the elements and rodent bites while hunting.

To keep her coat in good condition, it has to come off a couple of times a year. So when she's shedding, she needs a hand (and a tranquiliser)

to get it all off.

Poor little thing hates it. The hairball is nearly bigger than the dog! And it takes ages to do.

I have tried clippers, but the breeders say it's not good enough.

This is what she looks like under all that fur!

I usually leave most of the tail, tummy and legs.

Enough is enough!

Her undercoat is very soft and silky. She thinks it's fun to tickle her back with her tail!

And a nice chewie bone for being good.

She is such a sweetie - looks like a puppy again.

Don't be fooled though - this is a monster in disguise.....here she is quite miffed because I took photos of her.

At least now we can see each other again!

And she will have her new winter coat when it gets cold.

And I have done some sewing today as well! Well underway with the baby blanket - not completely happy with it, but we'll see. Photos coming soon...