Ticking along
It’s been a strange few weeks for us, with one thing and another. Time has seemed to turn to elastic and something that happened only a few days ago feels like a lifetime away and vice versa. The simplest task has felt like wading through treacle, and on more than one occasion I have just wanted to hide in my bed until it feels safe to come out again.
The fact that life continues all around you is both a blessing and a curse. I have a mountain of jobs to tackle, and although it’s slow-going I am finding that being able to tick things off my list feels like a triumph and that I am still part of “normal” life. I am fighting the urge to get everything done now – another day or two really won’t make any difference and everything will get done eventually.
With this attitude in mind, I actually sat down to have lunch in the garden yesterday. The sun was shining, the air was beautifully warm for early October and the birds were singing. I have resisted just sitting and “feeling the sky” until now as I have been more comfortable keeping busy busy busy until I collapse in bed at night, but yesterday I needed to feel the sunshine on my face.
I sat companionably with the dog and we listened to the birds singing and the cars moving along the nearby road, and I knitted a bit more of the pair of socks that I am making for my Uncle. It felt like a step in the right direction.
In other news, today is the day of the Great Winwick Bake Off. It’s an annual event held in aid of the roof fund for St Oswald’s Church here in Winwick – you can read about last year’s Bake Off here. This is my entry – a blueberry and white chocolate traybake. I have no aspirations of winning; for me it’s just a bit of fun and an opportunity to be part of a community fundraising project and to spend time with local friends – and eat lots of cake! What could be better for a Saturday afternoon?
Small daughter and I (my husband and big daughter were both working) headed up to the Winwick Leisure Centre to join in with the sampling and judging. It’s a very tasty way to raise funds for the Church and we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves!
I still have another post to write about Yarndale this year, but for now, let me share with you the treats that I picked up whilst I was there. I didn’t plan to buy much sock yarn this year as I still have yarn from other years that I haven’t knitted up yet, but I defy anybody to leave Yarndale empty-handed!
These were my bargain sock skeins – only £5 each! I’ve used Knitglobal yarn for a shawl before but not socks so I’m looking forward seeing how these turn out.
I had spotted this yarn early on Saturday morning and spent the rest of the weekend telling people about how lovely and soft it was. It wasn’t until Sunday afternoon when everybody was packing up that I realised that I’d spent the weekend recommending it but hadn’t got any for myself! I hurried round to the pen and luckily there was still a ball left for me. I haven’t knitted with Lang yarn for a long time and the one that I used didn’t have cashmere in it – this is going to be a real treat to knit up!
Finally, my favourite purchase – hand-dyed DK sock yarn! I spotted this on the Sunday morning, chatted for a while with the exhibitor (the lovely Helen at Ripplescrafts) and then headed back to the Knit n Natter Lounge. It was only when I was almost there that I realised I was about to make the biggest mistake of the weekend by leaving this skein on the stand – there was only one and this one has my name on it! I hurtled back and handed over my money before anyone else could whizz in and buy it first. I’ve never seen hand-dyed DK sock yarn before and these are just my colours. These are going to be very grand boot socks!
Tonight, my plan is no more exotic than some knitting time in front of the TV. I might even have a glass of wine (so no complicated patterns!). I’m not always very good at taking the time to be kind to myself even though I am very good at telling other people to do so, but I think it’s time to start listening to my own advice. After all, everything will still get done even if I have a night off.
Enjoy your evening of sock knitting 🙂 I've been working on mine too while watching Dr Who from behind a cushion 😉
Oh dear! I'm not a big fan of Dr Who, with or without a cushion – it used to frighten the life out of me when I was little! xx
I hope the bake off when ok. I say the sign for it when we went to Black Sheep the other day. I haven't been to the church in years, I remember them taking us from school as part of a history project and it was a beautiful church.
The Bake Off was a big success, it's always a fun event. The church is open again now after having been shut for a few years whilst the roof was repaired so you can go back in again if you fancy a re-visit! xx
One of my favourite things to get me that essential feel good factor is knitting some sunshine into a knit that's destined to be a gift. X Love the blue sock yarn too. It'd make a lovely hoodie for a baby too!!
What a lovely idea, Rachel! I do like the thought of knitting sunshine into a gift, it makes it even more special! xx
The bake off sounds like my kind of day out sampling all those lovely bakes yours looks yummy. I love all your Yarndale purchase's what lovely colours, I've almost finished one sock with the yarn I bought I'm just about to start the toe shaping and I'm praying there will be enough yarn to complete it without having to use a bit from the second skein which would mean a slightly shorter second sock fingers crossed! Have a lovely Sunday and forget about all he jobs that need doing. 🙂 xx
Ooh, fingers crossed the yarn lasts for you! You could always leave the first sock and complete the second one to match so that you can see how much you have left and do the toes in a different colour if necessary. 🙂 xx
Please be kind to yourself 🙂 I've just discovered your lovely blog and I've been reading back, enjoying all the Yarndale news. I'd love to knit some socks for next year if you do it again. I'll be back!
I am trying very hard to not overdo it this weekend, Sian! My plan next week is to get down to sorting out the Sock Line socks and I'm definitely hoping to do it again next year! xx
Gorgeous yarn and your bake looks delicious!! x
Thank you, Sharon! xx
my dad always said "a woman's work is never done" that should read housework, not womans work, it always needs cleaning, i'm passed that now, it gets done when i feel like doing it or when it looks messy lol. if it doesn't get done today, it will still be there tomorrow. housework is the last thing we should stress over, it just makes you sick & tired, do yourself a favour & knit more sunshine :)) you'll feel so much better. do take care of yourself, only recently discovered your blog & it's great reading!
thanx for sharing
Thanks for your comment, Selina, you really made me smile! I shall take your advice and ignore the housework (for a little while, at least!) and do something more interesting instead! 🙂 xx
I can understand how you've been feeling just lately, you've had so much going on in your life with one thing or another, it's good that you've taken a bit of time out to just be, and it's always lovely having a dog by your feet for a bit of company. The Winwick Bakeoff sounds like a brilliant fundraiser, something to get the whole village involved, your traybake looks delicious. I enjoyed reading all about the sock line in your last post, Yarndale was great again this year. I did come to find you but you were busily chatting to lots of other folk and when I came back again you'd disappeared. Perhaps you'd gone for lunch or you may have been doing a bit of shopping yourself, you picked up some gorgeous yarn.
I'm sorry I missed you, Jo, it would have been lovely to meet you! It was probably just bad luck as I was in the Knit n Natter lounge for most of the weekend. Never mind, hopefully we'll get chance to meet up next year! xx
loving the look of the tray bake … could you share the recipe please? The tastings sounded fun and right up my street. I'm glad you are relaxing and unwinding and finding some you time – you have had a couple of hectic weeks with lots going on. Loving the look of your hand dyed sock yarn and you must find some you time and cast on!! Take care xx Joy xx