Very Serious Cowl Wearing Photos....

 Over the weekend I knitted a cowl for myself. It was one of the quickest and most satisfying projects I have made. Big, bulky knits are great!!! To get a thick enough texture, I used two balls of wool at once - a 10 ply and 12 ply mix = 22 ply on 8mm needles.

Jonno was very obliging to take a couple of photos this morning. I don't know why I was so serious, maybe cowls are not to be taken lightly.

This morning is a flurried excitement with readying the spare room/studio for Mum's arrival from Australia this afternoon. I can't wait.... well, I can wait long enough to get rid of a few gangrenous spots in the house and then I'm ALL READY!!!!

Have a great day and hopefully I can show you photos of a finished baby jumper tomorrow.

Lots of love,

Kate xxooxx.

Designing a Jumper.

 I'm embarking on a new stage in my creative life - designing a baby's jumper. I always have such a strong vision for how the boys' jumpers should look (they really don't care - their favourite kind of clothing is made from flannel and begins with p-y-j) and it then takes 70 years of research to match up a pattern. The baby jumper is not for them - but it is a good exercise to begin with... also very quick.

 I want this jumper to have the neckline of a singlet - I've always had a bit of a thing for this look. The stripes of course are a family favourite but it's also been a great way of row counting.

 The next step in the process was getting Baby Evelyn to model the unsewn version. I aimed for the sizing to be 3-6 months and it seems to be spot on. Still a little roomy but with not much to spare (she is 5 months).

 It's much easier to have someone help by pinning the helpless baby down.

 Otherwise this happens which of course is an unmitigated disaster.

And finally I have her knitted pants finished in time for Winter. She is very cuddly when she wears them. Mind you, she is cuddly in other clothes too.

Lots and lots of love,

Kate xxooxxooxx.

An Anzac Day With Hugo.

 Last night we had the very strange event of having just one boy at home - Hugo. Archie had the wonderful opportunity to stay the night with his grandparents followed by a trip to the Anzac Dawn Service wearing his great grandfather's medals. And so, Hugo revelled in sole attention from his parents.

I always find that one on one time is a special thing and I love it when the boys have the chance to do something different from each other. Hugo celebrated his early morning by watching all the cartoons he is not usually allowed to. I came downstairs and found him a little chilled - it's always such a lovely thing to swaddle a little child in crocheted blankets.

 Hugo then spent the morning (wearing pyjamas), decorating plates with ceramic markers.

 I loved the designs he came up with and could easily order a dinner set if he had the patience... which unfortunately he doesn't - it's almost as though he is a six year old or something....

 So cute!!!!

Apparently this one is to put my tea cup on.... or pour tea onto and drink from it - either way....

Lots of love,

Kate xxooxxooxx.

Cosy Home...

So ridiculously good to be home again. I love holidays but I am such a homebody. Being able to sit at the kitchen table and knit, drink cups of tea in my own bed and cook in my kitchen. Little things that add the sparkle to every day.

By the way, here is a new jug I found on holidays at a second hand shop. It was an absolute bargain as there is a tiny chip on the spout - the sort of thing that all my stuff has anyway. I can't wait to fill it with daffodils in the spring.

And then there are the little welcome homes by favourite pot plants. I love this geranium so much. The colour isn't quite accurate, it (she) is much more salmony. 

I have to admit that I am struggling with the new blogspot format so I hope this post comes out well.  

Lots and lots of love,
Kate xxooxx.

Birthdays and Homecomings.

 Today we arrived home happy, tired and very excited to be in living quarters with so much space!!! We arrived midday in time to cook a roast as requested by Archie who turned nine today! I can't believe I have a big nine year old boy. And he is so big too - our feet are the same size (actually, his are a smidgen bigger).

 Today I thought I would show you a few photos of the boys in all of their knitted goods. Archie likes to call himself Wool-f boy as he loves wolves and adores having things knitted for him. Jonno is wearing a jumper knitted by his mum and a beanie knitted by me. Archie is wearing fingerless mittens and a jumper knitted by me and a beanie made by Jonno's mum, Gran Gran.

 All three boys in hand knits beach patrolling.

 I have a little pattern in my head for Archie's mittens so I will type it down soon - it's for age 6 - 10.

 Here is Hugo in a jumper I first knitted for Archie when he was six. I only every make jumpers for Archie to fit him for one season so they are still in good condition for when Hugo receives them. I then make Hugo wear them for years....

 This year Archie decided he wanted a hoodie (I will post the details I promise). He has worn it every day over the last two weeks which is wonderful.

 Although now we are in Tauranga it will probably have a few weeks break. I can't get over how warm it is now we are home. No more layer upon layer of merino for us anymore.

Anyhoo, this big boys is nine and I think the last nine years have been spectacular with him on this planet. I love him.

Lots and lots and lots of love,

Kate xxooxxooxx.

Strange Pebbles and Other Things.

This is another thing that happens when you have a little time on your hands. Pebble crocheting....

Rock collecting.

Here we are in Momarangi Bay - one of the best places known to mankind. We get to camp right along the water side with very basic services. However, miracle of all miracles, power and wifi. Camping these days is pretty fancy. The boys have done almost nothing else than fish, swim, play cards and swing on swings (they have also fought on more than one occasion - I thought I had better add this incase it was all sounding a bit too idyllic - still normal family dynamics occuring).

This is Hugo with the whole bay to himself.

And best of all, time for good conversation.

I can't believe we only have two more nights left and then back home again!

Lots of love,

Kate xxooxxooxx.

Beaching Around.

This is what you do in the South Island when you are free camping without electricity - or at least this is something that you can do on a beach full of beach full of sanded rocks. Hugo spent a happy afternoon at Kekurangu turning the rocks into friends with his textas (felt tip pens).

The best thing (environmentally) is that with a rain they are washed clean.

Archie got back into his whittling. This is an activity I cannot be around to watch - Jonno hangs out with the boys when they do this. I will say however, that Archie has only cut himself once, two years ago.... but still. By the way, this is Archie's new jumper that I finished knitting just before we travelled down south. I'll share details in another post.

The best things about holidays though is having time to crochet to the orders of a six year old. Hugo wanted me to crochet a bunny hat to finish off his rabbit rock.

And then he had a rabbit to play with his penguin. Very appropriate.

Yesterday morning when we woke, we found this seal out on our beach. At first we tip-toed quietly not wanting to disturb her rest. After a while though we discovered she really didn't mind and we just went about our business as usual (running, jumping, shouting, playing).

We did spend a huge chunk of the morning watching her bask though.

Two boys and a beach.

The seal is still there - she is lying down like a little heap of seaweed - they are very good at blending in.

A boy and a seal.

Lots of love,

Kate xxooxxooxx.

South Islanding.

It's been a little while since I have been able to swing by the blog and that is because I am now in the South Island on holidays!!!! Archie and I flew down to Christchurch on Easter Monday leaving our house and all of our animals in capable hands (I still felt a little teary saying goodbye to Bertie...) and were reunited with Jonno and Hugo!!!

Over the past week we have had many adventures including playing on the Moeraki Boulders (or Devil's Marbles), penguin watching (we hid in the 'hide' below), seal spotting and looking at stuff - always a favourite.

This is the camping ground we stayed in at Moeraki, just opposite the famous Fleur's Place. We are so lucky because Jonno's parents let us use their motorhome - we love it. See how friendly it looks, smiling as the boys return to it.

We also visited Lanarch Castle in Dunedin. The boys took this photo for me as I couldn't make it up the last rickety staircase (due to childhood terrors - I'll explain another day). The views from the top were spectacular - or so they tell me.

But fortunately so were the grounds with beautiful gardens and amazing vistas. Here is Hugo pretending to sit on a box hedge....

Don't you think every garden needs a cow like this. It sort of reminds me of a Tove Jansson creation.

Side view of the castle...

Hanging out with Alice.

Viewing views.

Admiring stuff.

And being forced midway through a fight to pose in a crocus meadow - I can't remember if it was a threat or a bribe that made them put pleasant expressions on...

With my boys in one of my new dresses made from flannelette - very cosy for freezing Dunedin.

Well, I had better fly as my time is almost up - not time to even go back and correct any mistakes so please read with gentle eyes.

Lots of love,

Kate xxooxxooxx.